A/N: EDIT: did we do something wrong with this chapter? Feedback really seems to have dropped off...T_T
Only five reviews...
The site is also glitching out, making this chapter nearly impossible to see...
As always, every review really does help, large or small...any feedback is better than nothing at all.
Part two is a go~! Winter really swept this chapter off its feet. Clever girl, clever indeed...
Warning~! This chapter is...well, let's call it sensual and leave it at that. it wouldn't do it to spoil the dance, and what a dance it is!
I own no references, quotes, memes or themes! They're all tributes to legends far greater than me. 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 in the comments~!
Once more, hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode from the good 'ol days of Volume 1-3.
I'll leave that to you, the reader, to determine. I do hope you're prepared for a few more curveballs.
After all, the story prides itself on being unpredictable~! Speaking of which, here's a hint.
Remember those remarks Port made back during Winter's fight? No? You should~!
If you recognize the quote below you get a cookie~!
"I'm a master of disguise~!
~?
Just a Little Dance (Part II)
Winter could dance!
In hindsight, Jaune really should have known better; of course she could dance; not only was she a Schnee-he knew well the weight that name carried now-she was also the eldest child of said family. By all accounts, she had been raised with certain responsibilities by her parents before she'd thrown those away to follow her own path in the military.
He could respect that; choosing your own destiny, picking a path and sticking to it, regardless of what anyone said.
They had that in common.
Not only did she know how to dance, but she could dance well; better than he expected. To his great delight she proved herself more than a match for him as she swept him out onto the dance floor once, twice, now three times, she was a dignified dancer, a fearsome fighter, and a magnificent maiden besides, well worthy of her name.
Credit where it was due, the DJ swapped to an energetic tune that flowed into a wild waltz; it was there that Winter truly proved her mettle.
Without warning, she let go of his hand, beckoning as she went, stepped away from him, raised both arms above her head and clapped twice with the rhythm.
All eyes turned toward her, his own included. What was she doing now...?
The minx of a maiden knew what she was doing.
Winter wore a sultry smile as she stomped a heel down upon the ballroom floor, the act of which produced a sharp sudden sound and a glowing white glyph besides. The sudden flare-up of her semblance drew more than a few flinches from those nearby and around her besides, but she didn't seem to care. With a wave of her hand the glyph rose upward into the ceiling, where it remained. Not a moment later, snow began to float down from on high, drawing delighted noises from his fellow students.
Now wasn't that a clever way of concealing her Maiden powers...?
Winter brought her foot down again, conjuring another glyph to join the first, followed by a third, and a fourth, then a fifth, each of which moved smoothly to join the first, adding still more snowflakes to the first. Nowhere near enough to bury everyone -though she could've- but enough to enhance the scene, nay, to set it. Winter wasn't stomping at all he realized, the motion wasn't vicious enough, but more a series of tap-tap-taps to the music above in the booth above, each drawing both the eye and the ear alike.
Was this some kind of forgotten Atlesian dance...? Had she come up with this on her own? Or was she just showing off?
Possibly all three?
He wasn't sure.
Regardless, she really did have no limit. Had it been him standing up there alone, with so many eyes on him, he would've frozen with fright by now. Not her. She was dauntless. Fearless. If she was at all anxious, she did little to hide it. Amazing what a bit of power could do for one's ego.
In a swirl of silver sequin silk she sashayed -see stalked- forward, hips swaying.
Towards him.
Everyone parted around her like the sea and well that they did; because the Maiden took ahold of his hand and yanked him forward.
All this, in an instant; it was only a lifetime of fleet footwork that prevented Jaune from stumbling outright. Even then, he still crashed into her, or rather, she caught him. Dense though he might be, he wasn't deaf to the muffled laughter that followed from the crowd.
"My, my," Winter hummed against him, lips brushing his ear, "Whatever is the matter Jaune? I thought you were faster than this."
He was! She'd just caught him by surprise, that was all. But why would she-
Wait.
He saw her smile, caught the light lilt in her voice, the teasing tone, and realized her game in an instant. She was testing him again; trying to determine how good of a dancer he really was
Two could play that game!
He pushed off her, but she didn't let go of his hand; far from it, she chased him.
He wasn't one to turn down a challenge and mirrored her
In an instant he found himself nearly being led again, but only for a moment before he seized the initiative and wrested it away from her to set the pace himself; step one-two-three-four, twist and pivot to see if she could keep up, and when she did, he spun her in under his arm to hold her close. She hadn't been expecting that at all, and he reveled in the little gasp she gave when he dipped her backwards, low, lower, lowest still, drinking in the cries of the audience and...
.
..
...hold...
...hold her...
...hold her there until...now!
With a grin, he reeled Winter in just when she'd begun to think that he'd let her fall. The result was a terribly startled Maiden colliding with his chest in a rush; she latched on for dear life, one hand coming to rest on his waist, the other looping tightly around the back of his neck. Her gaze met his, eyes wide, bosom heaving, quietly breathless and utterly vulnerable in every way; it was an expression he'd remember until his dying day.
She fit snugly against him, every curve pressed into his body, her breath cool against his face, coming in little gasps as she struggled to master herself.
"I...you...that wasn't fair!" Her composure cracked momentarily and it showed as she hissed at him. "Where did you learn to move like that...?!"
By having seven sisters. Technically eight. But that didn't make for a good retort, and he wanted to make her squirm.
The answer practically sprang to his lips.
"All's fair in love and war."
Her pale face darkened, and not at all in a bad way. The sight of her just then awakened something in him; made him want to forgo the dance entirely, pin Winter up against a wall and have his way with her. Seemed she might let him, too judging by that half-lidded gaze of hers; given the way she licked her lips, it looked like she might enjoy that very much.
'Oh, shoot. I think Pyrrha really broke me with this whole sex thing...'
The thought brought on a jolt.
Pyrrha.
Ashamed of himself and the subsequent lapse of control, he drew back a little, placing some much-needed distance between the two of them to hold her at arms length once more. High above them, the once raucous beat swept into a slow song as couples paired off once more. He took the opportunity to grant her a glare.
"Are we done playing games now?"
Winter pouted a little, but wasn't so easily dissuaded, she stepped in and tucked her head into his chest. "For now."
Wicked vixen! Really, he should have known better.
"You dance well."
He finally answered by way of laughter. "Multiple sisters."
"That still doesn't explain your excellent footwork."
Yes, yes it did.
He still remembered Saphron and that damn dodgeball of hers!
"Listen, Jaune. There are five D's a man must master when it comes to evading an attack. Dodge, duck, dip, dive, and destroy."
"Waitaminute, what does the last one have to do with dodgeball-
"I know what I said! Now dodge, little brother!"
Shaking off his existential trauma, he granted Winter a haunted look. "Best not to ask."
"...I see." she used the opportunity to pull him closer; not forcefully mind you, but enough to make her intentions clear as they swayed in place. "Keep your secrets, then. I won't stab you for them."
The casual suggestion of violence was just like her; worse, he could feel a certain someone glaring icy daggers into his back. "I think Weiss might...
Winter huffed. "First come first serve, Arc. If someone was to pry you away from me, then they must try."
He had a feeling someone -Yang!- just might make the attempt.
"Mother will arrive soon, by the way." Winter said suddenly, apropos of nothing. "I thought you should know.
He quirked a brow. "Why?"
"I believe she didn't want to make an entrance."
"Really? Isn't it usually the other way around or something?"
"That's the gist of it, yes." There it was, the shadow of a smile against her lips again, there and gone before he could comment on it. "Needless to say she has reasons for not wishing to be seen as herself." Those words stirred barest beginnings of an idea in the back of his mind, gradually painting a picture of what to expect. "What was it you said? She's young enough to be my sister?"
Jaune looked away and coughed into a fist. "...you're not going to let me live that one down, are you?"
"No." she took ahold of that hand and brought it back to wrest upon her hip. "No, I am not."
He endured the action with a long-suffering sigh. "To be fair, she's aged very well."
Winter's gaze rather reminded him of a shark, sans the smile. "She certainly has, hasn't she? I'll be sure to tell her you said so."
"Please, don't."
She blinked with faux innocence, not fooling him for a moment. "Whyever not? Mother's quite good with make up when she wants to be and you've give her ample reason to want. Why, I believe she even went so far as to wear a wig for the occasion. You're rather fond of girls with long hair, aren't you?"
Hint. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge, NUDGE.
Hey, now. Even he wasn't that dense!
Kurama tutted in disagreement.
Winter pressed the attack while he was distracted. "Might I ask why?"
He had an answer, but he didn't want to give it up so easily for fear she might laugh at him.
In a moment of weakness, he buried his head into her groove of her shoulder.
...she smelled nice.
Winter stiffened for all of a moment, then made a pleased noise and began stroking the back of his head. Had she been waiting for this moment? Felt like it. Distantly he heard the DJ switch tracks on them again. Another slow song?! Have mercy! Play something energetic! Give him a chance -an excuse!- to break away!
...its a personal preference, alright?" he muttered the last word into Winter's skin. "I enjoy brushing it. Don't judge me."
Winter was silent for a long moment, he could tell she was weighing her response, trying to find the words.
"Excellent." she said at length, visibly preening. Then you'll enjoy her disguise." And then, as though she'd only just thought of it, "You may also brush my hair at your leisure."
Kurama absolutely cackled in his head. "I knew it! She's exactly like you! Broken, but in all the right ways!"
Jaune coughed, heat rising in his cheeks. "Why are you like this?"
"Like what?" she let him draw back and tilted her head
"This!" he hissed out the word, gesturing to her.
"Is it not natural for couples to banter?"
Best rip that bandage off. "I'm seeing someone."
He expected anger. A rebuke. Something.
All he received was a blink. "I know."
"Ha...?!"
"Its rather obvious," Winter pressed her forehead to his, glowing blue eyes lancing into his own as she let him lead her through the steps of another dance. "You've become more confident since our duel; such implies you either did something spectacularly stupid, highly unlikely given your disposition, or you got yourself laid. Likely the latter. It was Nikos, wasn't it? You spend a great deal of time with her."
His throat closed for all the wrong reasons. "Were you spying on me?"
"Was I not supposed to...?"
"Winter!"
"Jaune."
She really didn't understand people, did she? There was something fundamentally wrong with this woman; he'd known that from the moment they fought, but here it became abundantly clear; she either didn't understand social norms, or scorned them outright. Likely a mix of both. He didn't sense an iota of guilt in her, only confusion.
A rare look of concern crossed Winter's pale visage. "Are you angry with me? Did I do something wrong?"
His scroll chose that precise moment to chime in, preventing him from answering.
He retrieved it from his coat pocket without a second thought.
Huh? A message from Pyrrha? Had she seen him?
Three little words lingered on the screen.
"Stop holding back~!"
Baffled, he looked about in search of his precious partner, but saw no sign of her. It should've been easy to spy her red hair amidst the crowd but he couldn't; sensing her proved even more difficult given how many people were present, with all these strong emotions contaminating the scene, it was like sifting an ocean through a thimble. Impossible.
Where was she?
"Jaune?"
He looked back to Winter. She looked confused. Upset.
When next she spoke, her voice wavered, just a little. "Have I upset you...?"
Urk.
"No, no," he took her hand in his and drew her back against him before she could escape. "Its not you. You're fine. Better than fine; I was just looking for my partner."
Here at last, it was her turn to flush. "Your partner...? Blast. I've been monopolizing you, haven't I? Mother warned me about this. My apologies...
The idea that someone like Winter, the literal Winter Maiden, could stammer and stumble over conversation absolutely baffled him.
He gripped her hand a little tighter and drew her into another dance, casually leading her to the edge of the ballroom.
"Onto business, then." her face hardened into the steely mask of duty he'd come to know so well. "General Ironwood is already in attendance," she gave a subtle nod to the balcony above where she glimpsed the man himself dancing with Miss Goodwitch, "And his troops are in position around the tower. We're still waiting on your agent."
Jaune managed a nervous laugh despite himself. "She's really Child's spy, not mine...
"You will know her when you see her, or so I've been told."
He gulped. Then...?
"Then we still have time." Winter reassured him, daring to nuzzle her cheek against his. "The dance has only just begun; it is our belief that Fall won't strike until she believes us preoccupied. You will most likely be her primary target once she accomplices her objective." If she accomplished her objective was left unsaid. "Be sure and keep your aura up."
Fair. She made a good point. "I could say the same of you."
A small, sad smile was his reward. "I always do. Ever since I was a little girl."
There was something in her voice just then. "Winter...?"
"My apologies." said smile vanished quickly as it came. "Just thinking of the past."
He knew better than to pry and let it be. He really did. And yet:
"You had a rough childhood too, didn't you?"
She blinked, somewhat taken aback.
Well, his had been rough due to mom and dad's near-constant training; he'd learned to keep his aura up due to constant ambushes and surprise attacks besides, to say nothing of nearby Grimm. Ansel was an isolated little village, and its populace were a hardy folk. Genetics aside, Arcs were strong for that very reason. They had no choice but to be. Naruto and Juniper wouldn't let them be otherwise.
Somehow, he doubted Winter's experience was the same.
"Father liked to strike me when I defied him." she touched a hand to her cheek, no doubt reliving a bitter memory. "Which was often to be fair." she laughed bitterly. "I'm a willful woman, Jaune and I was a rather churlish girl. It was not a happy childhood."
He winced, feeling like a cad. "I'm sorry...?"
"Don't be. There are times when I wonder whether Jacques was truly my father at all." her voice had gone cold now, her face almost worryingly blank. "Quite frankly, I've often contemplated killing him. It would bring me immense joy to butcher him myself, provided I could get away with it."
No father should ever strike their child. "He sounds like a bastard...
"Indeed. Did you know I broke his wrist just before I left for the military?" She smiled almost fondly, "I'll remember that look on his face for the rest of my life."
Had her blue eyes gleamed red just now? Or was it his imagination?
Kurama rumbled. "I wonder...
'What? Do you know something I don't?'
"I know nothing. Merely a sinking suspicion. Don't let me ruin your night."
Sure, great. Because that was an ominous at all!
Still, she looked so miserable...
Spurred by equal parts sadness and sorrow, he moved without thinking, prying the hand away from her cheek and darting in while it was left unclaimed to place a quick kiss there. Little more than a peck against the back of her knuckles. Refined. Polite. It was the gentlemanly thing to do, or so he told himself.
What would Nora say in the situation? Think, Jaune! Think!
"I can help you break his legs, if you like?"
Winter tilted her head, and he had the strangest feeling he'd just elevated himself in her eyes. "You would help me wreak bloody vengeance upon Jacques?"
"Sure...?"
Winter went still.
"Winter?" he waved a hand before her face, concerned. "Remnant to Winter...? Anybody home?"
She exhaled suddenly, sharply, savagely.
It was his only warning before her forehead collided with his, momentarily stunning him with the sheer ferocity of such a sudden movement. She didn't kiss him, which was all to the good; he didn't think he'd be able to control himself -or avoid the wrath of Weiss- but what she did next-what she said-was somehow so much better:
"Bedroom. Jaune. Now." The Winter Maiden seized his hand and squeezed so hard his aura actually flexed for a moment from the strain. "I require a great many children from you. This very instant."
Jaune's soul damn near left his body.
'Huh. They'd actually look rather nice, come to think of it...'
His mind shut down, rebooted, only to falter and fail all over again. Alas, common sense won out in the end.
"We really can't." Painfully, he pried her fingers from his. "We have a mission, remember?"
She didn't give up that easily, bless her soul. "We have time...!"
"Not enough for what you have in mind...
She made an annoyed noise and drew backward.
Someone hollered in the background. It sounded suspiciously like Penny. "Am I going to have another cousin?!"
Penny, why?!
Jaune nearly went week in the knees. Best change the subject while he could. Before Winter kidnapped him outright and made him a father.
"I've been wondering, though...
She blinked, the glazed look leaving her eyes. "Yes?"
He glanced down to her flowing dress. "How do you intend to fight in that tonight?"
Winter quirked a pale brow. "Is that really the question you want to be asking?"
"Not really, no, but if it keeps you from jumping my bones...?"
She humored him with a hum and leaned into him. "You do realize I can conjure ice armor. You saw me do so in our fight"
"Aha, I did, didn't, I." he'd near forgotten in his panicked plight to distract her. "Guess I forgot...?"
Winter hummed a little and kept swaying with him, realizing she wouldn't have him alone, but unwilling to release him either. "It was a rather nice fight, wasn't it? She said it so breezily, as though it were some common compliment, not a testament to the devastating damage he could do in a fight. "You move well."
"Are we talking about a dance or a fight?"
Winter threw her head back as she laughed aloud, a rare sound that drew many eyes her way. "Why do you tempt me so, Arc...?"
He couldn't help but mirror her smile. "I'm not trying to you, honest."
"Hmm." she nuzzled her head into his neck and refused to be budged. "So you say...
Winter understood him. She was also one of the few people nearly of a height with him, also a rare thing, given he topped out over six feet. Not by much, but enough for him to notice. She was also most noticeably older, Not just in the manner she interacted with him, but the way in which she regarded the world as a whole.
Frustrating though she could be, he enjoyed interacting with her all the same.
"While we're asking questions...you and Weiss...that is a ruse, isn't it?"
The jig was up! Sorry, Weiss!"
"Kinda sorta...
Winter hummed once. "I suspected as much. And yet I can feel my little sister glaring daggers into my back...
Had he his hands free, Jaune would've scratched the back of his head. Instead, he could only sigh. "I really don't know what to do with that girl."
"Be honest with her, Jaune."
"You say that, but-
"No." her hand snaked up and grabbed him by the chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Be honest with her, as I am with you. For instance, I consider you an equal.
He couldn't quite contain the retort that bubbled up in him. "Even though I kicked your ass?
Her eyes flashed, not in anger, but Maiden light. "There you are." She practically purred the last word. "I was wondering where that sharp tongue of yours was hiding."
Heat rose in his face.
Once more he became cognizant of several things, intimately aware of just how close Winter was, how nicely she fit against him how easily she mirrored his movements alongside the smell of her perfume on the air. Or maybe that was just her maiden powers at work. She had a crisp, clean scent, like freshly driven snow. It was nice just to sway back-and-forth with her, nothing complicated, just a simple conversation between two people who shared similar interests.
Didn't they?
He found that he did.
Something stirred in him anew.
His eyes flicked down to her mouth.
Winter licked her lips. "Its not too late to sneak away...
"There you are!"
Evidently it was; because a new challenger appeared.
Winter bridled and he knew at once who it was even before turning about.
In hindsight, Jaune wasn't sure whether he ought to be grateful for that intervention or not...
Amber beamed back at him, her eyes flecked with fresh flame. "Sorry I'm late." she planted a palm on her hip and held the other out towards them. "I'll be taking Jaune now. Hand him over."
Winter's own gaze shone arctic blue. "You'd think so, wouldn't you...?"
Amber's smile gleamed with teeth. "I know so, bitch."
"Swearing doesn't make you cool."
While Winter went with the traditional sequin silver, the once-wounded Fall Maiden had chosen a dress akin to the color of her namesake, bordering on a bright, flaming fire. No, as in someone had literally woven Dust into her dress. It looks like it was actually on fire. Weaving fire Dust in the cloth was possible, practically even, but it was also very dangerous if one didn't know what they were doing.
Evidently, Amber did.
Note to self, don't let his sisters see her in that dress. His siblings were absolute fiends when it came to clothes. They'd be clamoring for a similar design.
The Two Maidens stared one another down.
Jaune heaved the sigh of a doomed man.
Seemed his reprieve was over.
"Can't we all get along?"
They glared at him.
"No!"
(.0.0.0.)
Dancing sucked.
Dresses absolutely sucked.
Everything about this suuuucked.
Ruby nursed a glass of punch and stubbornly stared at the floor, refusing to regard the spectacle taking place before her.
She didn't see Jaune.
Nope.
Didn't see Amber and Winter fighting over Jaune.
Nope, nope.
Definitely didn't feel bad for shouting at Jaune earlier.
Nope, nope, nope!
...dangit. She felt like poop. Couldn't swear, because that'd be more money for the swear jar. It was already overflowing thanks to Weiss and Yang; they already had nearly enough to buy another Bumblebee and a stack of Blake's books besides. Maybe even some upgrades or much-needed maintenance for Crescent Rose~!
Maintenance was good. Maintenance was safe. Maintenance made sense.
Unlike people. People were poopy.
"Having trouble there, kiddo?"
Ruby jumped and her glass of punch jumped with her, flying clean out her hands to spatter all over the chest of an unfortunate transfer student bearing blue hair.
Poor Neptune. Not that she knew his name. Her attention was decidedly elsewhere.
"Uncle Qrow...?"
Because against all odds it was her uncle there, leaning on a nearby pillar, dressed in his usual attire, cape and all.
He raised his flask in a salute. "Nice toss. Yang says you're still moping. You good?"
Dangit! Yang must've sicced him on her or something.
No-good-meddling-boy-stealing-sister!
"You knew?"
He rolled a shoulder and knocked his flask back to take a long draught before speaking. "Not about the whole talking Grimm shtick," and why did he seem so unbothered by that?! "But at this point, it'll take even more than that to surprise me." he jerked his chin Jaune's way and belatedly, she spied Amber sweeping him away from a scowling Winter into the throng of dancers, where the two of them joined in on a lively jig that involved a great deal of kicking and clapping. "Believe it or not, That kid there might just be the key to world peace. Don't be too hard on him, eh?"
Ruby sputtered. "Jaune...?!
"The one and only. Look, it's complicated-
She crossed both arms before her chest and pouted. "More complicated than a talking grim?"
"Yup." he smacked his lips audibly, surprising her." Frankly, we got lucky; that or Salem got unlucky." he waggled a black brow at her. "Not sure if that was my semblance acting up or what. Look at him," he cackled as Winter stole him back from an indignant Amber for another slow number, "He's just like Oz; which makes him even worse than Taiyang, and your old man was a doozy back in our day. Small wonder sparky's got half of Beacon chasin' after him. Apple don't fall far from the tree...
Ruby stared. She stared hard.
"Regardless!" He coughed into a fist before she could chew him out, "The kid means well. Don't think he has an evil bone in his body. Cut him some slack, eh?"
She huffed and looked away, unwilling to let go of her anger so easily. "He gets kinda rough during fights, though...
"Doesn't your sister?"
Urk. Alright, he had her there.
"S'ides," Qrow ambled on, savoring Jaune's misfortune, "Its not like he insults you or anything, from what I've heard he gets along with just about everybody."
"Not Weiss."
Speaking of, wasn't that Weiss trying to butt her way into the dance now? Ooomph. Emphasis on tried. Winter had just caught her with a glyph and sent her sliding away.
Qrow cackled. "Good. Screw the Schnees."
"Uncle Qrow! Don't be mean to Weiss! She's my teammate!"
"Pretty prickly for a partner-hey! I'm just saying!" he raised a hand toward off the flurry of punches that sought his chest. "You could do better."
She growled and pinched his arm, drawing a yelp from him. "I don't want to do better." she liked her Weiss, thank you very much! Weiss is...she's trying to be better alright ?
"Really?" Her one-and-only uncle whistled as Weiss staggered back into the fray, swearing a blue streak. "She's being a bit of a bitch if ya ask me."
"Oh, that's because her sister came in and swept Jaune off his feet."
Her uncle was noticeably silent on that front.
...you're not gonna bother them?"
He took a long, long drink from his flask. "Not really interested in having my bits frozen off, so no, I'll take the princess over the queen any day. At least I can ward that one off.
Ruby wrinkled her nose. "You really shouldn't drink that much."
He mimed her words back at her, but there was a faint, worried tone to his words.
For all his sass, uncle Qrow seemed tense tonight. Idly she noticed a gleam of silver on his back, and peaked over. Her eyes widened at what she found there.
He'd brought Harbinger.
No fair! She wasn't allowed to bring Crescent Rose to the dance, why did he get to have his weapon, when she had to leave her baby behind in her locker?!
"Hey, hey," he batted her hands aside when she reached for his gear. "Don't go ogling my weapon. You've got your own."
She turned her gaze on him. "Are you expecting trouble?"
He masked his frown in another long drink. Just how bottomless was that flask? "Don't worry about it. Just think of me as a chaperone."
"An armed chaperone, uncle Qrow."
"Meh," he shrugged, "You say potato, I say tomato."
"That's not the saying at all!"
That settled it. Something was going down tonight. It must be if a kickass -swear jar!- huntsman like her uncle was in attendance. Uncle Qrow hated stuffy functions like this. That he'd bothered to be here at all instead of out in the field meant things were happening.
Exciting things, maybe? Things to distract her? Things that didn't involve sulking about Jaune?
Qrow's hand descended upon her head without warning, tousling her hair. In a matter of moments, he had her bangs all over the place, right in her eyes.
Ruby wailed. "Stooop! You're worse than that darn dirty dog!"
"Awww, don't be mean to Zwei~!"
"Not talking about him!"
He laughed at her, utterly unfazed by her behavior.
Darn it, she hated being short!
"Look, kiddo." with one last rub and affectionate chortle, he took his hand from her head and returned it to his flask. "You're young. You don't know what love is. Enjoy being a kid for a while yet before you get wrapped up in that crap
"Swear, jar."
He rolled his eyes. And not for the first time she couldn't help but notice how very red they were tonight. Almost like they were brighter than usual. Something was riling him up.
If she squinted, they almost seem to glow.
Uncle Qrow had always been like that ever since she was little. For as long as she could remember; his red eyes always got even more red when he was feeling strong emotions. But this was the first time she'd seen those weird symbol thingies in his eyes. Ordinarily she would've called that his semblance, but his was luck based -Ruby refused to believe it was bad luck given how many near death scrapes her uncle had escaped- so what was this?
Yang didn't know.
Dad didn't talk about it.
Mom had always dodged the question before she died.
And Uncle Qrow...he just said they were his eyes. Like it didn't matter.
Didn't they?
It felt like she was missing something here, like she had a big piece of an important puzzle, but she just didn't know how to make it fit. Belatedly, she blinked, and found her uncle's eyes had resume their usual dull hue. The odd marks were gone. As if she'd imagined them.
Had she?
"Look," Qrow sighed, offering her a fresh cup of punch, "Raven and I didn't know our old man. But you? You have a dad, and he loves you dearly. So do Yang and I, obviously. Summer does too. Then you've got your team, and the four of you clearly get along. That's enough, right? You've got a big family. No need to go looking for more."
Her heart kicked against her chest. "Does? You make it sound like Mom's still alive."
Qrow shrugged. "Don't like talking about her in the past tense. 'Sides, we never found a body, remember. Who knows? If she's out there somewhere, maybe she'll find her way back to us someday."
It was a fools hope, she knew. Mom loved them. If she could've made her way back by now, she would have...
.
..
...right?"
"So back to blondie." Qrow planted an elbow atop her head, delighting in the angry noise she made, "What's the hangup with him? What, did you see him go all Grimmy on you or something?
Ruby stubbornly pouted into her punch. "No...
"Is it about his ancestry or something?"
Ruby glared at the floor.
"Knew it." Qrow blew out a sigh. "I've told you before; we don't know what happened to Summer. All we know is that she went on a mission, one that Oz didn't send her on, and she never came back." he turned a wistful look back to the dance floor and she followed his gaze just in time see Weiss win a dance while Amber and Winter squabbled with one another and an amused Pyrrha looked on. "Your mom wanted to save the world, not to be a hero, but to make it safer for you, Yang and everyone in it."
Ruby sniffled a little but refused to cry. She was a big girl, darnit. She drank milk!
Qrow continued, either not noticing her tears or choosing not to comment on them. "She'd give anything for that dream, ally herself with anyone, make any sacrifice so long as she was the one to bear the burden. If she didn't make it home, then it was because she had no other choice. You gonna blame Blondie over there for that? For something he couldn't control? He'd be only a little older than you were when Summer disappeared. Is that his fault?
His words stabbed her right in the gut...and the guilt. "No..."
"Then, what's the hangup?"
Ruby opened her mouth to answer; and her jaw clicked shut of its own volition.
Call it self-preservation, if you will.
Nope. Nuh-uh. Never.
No way in duck was she telling him Uncle Qrow that she kissed Jaune.
Qrow's flask creaked in his grasp. "You did what now...?"
Crapbaskets! She said it aloud!
"Nothing!"
Too late, the Grimm was out the bag.
"Ah. I see." her favorite-and-only-uncle twitched, a vein jumping in his jaw. "Well, that changes everything, doesn't it?" His gaze swept back to the dancefloor, pinpointing Jaune's location and locking on like a heat-seeking dust missile. "Maybe I should have a word with him."
Ruby knew uncle-speak quite well.
Those words right there?
Code red!
She paled. "Uncle Qrow, no."
Undaunted, Qrow began cracking his knuckles. "I don't wanna hurt him, I just wanna talk to him...with Harbinger...
Ruby howled and tackled his legs out from him, driving them both to the floor.
"Uncle Qroooooow!"
(.0.0.0.)
Ozpin surveyed the commotion from the balcony above with a keen eye.
When one lived as long as he had, one learned to take a certain amusement in the suffering of others. Not their pain, mind you, never that; but rather the hardships they endured to reach their goals, and the joy they felt in accomplishing them...
.
..
...and the bonds forged along the way.
Take young Jaune Arc for example. His descendant acquitted himself well on the dance floor to be sure, but there was only one of him. He was...what was the saying?
Suffering from success?
Yes, that was the one.
Quite so!
He looked on with an indulgent smile as the boy let himself be bandied about like a prized stag; and so too did he see the moment he reached the end of his tether. The limit of his patience, if you will. With an exasperated noise that would've made Salem proud, his great-great-great-however-many-great grandson flung up his hands, did something with his fingers and quite suddenly, with a plume of smoke, there were a great many more of him to be found.
Was that magic? Or one of those jutsu Naruto had mentioned. Regardless, the results spoke for themselves.
The ladies seemed to enjoy that little trick very, very much.
Even he took a certain amusement in.
Ah, the joys of youth.
Still it was nearly time. Perhaps he ought to head down and rescue the poor boy.
A flash of golden hair crossed his vision.
Someone brushed by.
Ozpin froze.
His cane clattered to the floor; he wasn't even aware he'd dropped it until he heard the sound.
It couldn't be. It wouldn't be. It shouldn't be.
This wasn't possible.
Pivoting, he reached out and snared the passerby's wrist, stopping them in their tracks.
She, this blond woman, was wearing a white dress. Exactly as he remembered.
And yet he didn't believe his eyes.
Until she turned about.
Faced him fully.
"Salem...?"
A/N: Tada~!
Its all coming together! If Salem's here in a temporary disguise -courtesy of Naruto and Juniper- then where are they?
Part 3 incoming. Ran out of time for Pyrrha, Willow and the others in this chapter, didn't want to rush.
Next chapter title should be something along the lines of: Just a little...?
The Duel approaches and with it the Vytal Festivaaaal~! Looking forward to properly introducing teams NDGO, FNKI, ABRN, SSSN, BRNZ and the like~! And let us not forget Ciel~! She has a starring role in Far From Home, but its oh-so-nice working with characters who are essentially a blank slate!
As ever, these glorious misunderstandings remain glorious. Are we going for the single route, or the harem ending? I suppose that depends on you, the reader. We're not quite done with the story yet, we still have a bit more to go, not to mention the other continents, Lionheart, the Crown, and the like, to say nothing of the Brother Gods and our Impostors! Or we could just end this after the imminent attack on Beacon.
Your choice! Find out next time, on Practice Makes Perfect!
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?
Next chapter will be bonkers.
Everyone's gonna laugh~!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
(Preview!)
"You look lovely...
"I have not surrendered, nor will I." She somehow managed to sound both huffy and pleased in the same moment. "This is a truce for the evening. Nothing more. Do not assume otherwise."
"I would not expect any less, my dear."
Her eyes watered.
"It's a lovely night for a dance, isn't it?"
Then those eyes flashed red.
Not wholly cured, then.
Unfortunate.
x
Willow was fashionably late.
Wasn't hard to guess why.
Jaune's jaw dropped.
"That's one way to make an entrance...
Winter preened at his side. Did you expect anything less?
x
Who the hell is she?
x
Pyrrha grabbed his arm and yanked.
x
Sighin' like that will make even the best drink taste like regret. So before you do, we gotta take care of whatever's troublin' ya.
x
You again?!
Neo waved merrily.
...what do you want."
She bounced in place on her heels, pointing past him.
...Ice cream? Seriously? You're a wanted criminal!
She could make noise evidently, just not words.
Neo crossed both arms in the shape of an X, stuck out her tongue and mimed a "bzzzzzt" noise,
Then wha-
She was trying to tell him something, but what?
x
It was almost too easy...but she couldn't ignore this opportunity.
Cinder knocked an arrow to her bow.
Drew the string back.
She let it fly.
"Die."
x
Hazel heard a shrill scream and looked up from his work.
No matter. He had a task to which he must attend.
For Gretchen.
He threw the switch.
x
Pssst! You awake?"
He certainly was now.
Against his better judgement, Jaune creaked an eye open. "...Yang...?"
She was leaning over his bed.
"Hey, sparky. You wanna do something we're not supposed to?"
He eyed her warily, eyes glowing in the gloom. What are you up to?
"Shhhh! She shushed him and held up a finger, silencing his protest. "Not so loud...
x
"Congratulations!" The newcomer kept clapping as everyone looked on aghast. "You exceeded my expectations, truly. I tip my hat to you; or I would if I had one handy.
"Jaune," Yang hissed. "What's going on...?"
She was asking him?!
He had no idea!
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed this! Have a great day and may it be filled with lots of luck!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
