[RWBY] The Great Temporal Step-Sibling War!

[Ardrianian]

Knowing that Nora was abandoned for Grimm bait and Ren getting over his semblance effects by Nick's dad-logic drives home how fertile the story arc between Ren and Nora and CRWBY fumbled that bag. There should have been some next level feelings after offing the Nucklevee.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Willow was looking over several documents in the rooms Beacon had given to her, Klein and Whitley. While not the most luxurious she had stayed in, this was of no concern to her as she continued her work. There was a knock at the door, and Klein headed off to answer. A moment later, Klein returned, General Ironwood in tow.

"James," Willow said with a soft smile.

"Willow," he returned gently. Klein moved to pull out a chair for him, and the general sat down opposite her.

"Would you like the usual brandy, sir?" Klein said. Ironwood shook his head.

"I'm afraid I must decline. Too much work to do," he said.

"Tea then," Klein agreed, "Much better at this hour than coffee, sir."

"Thank you," Ironwood said with a nod, as Klein headed off to the kitchen. Willow smiled softly.

"You seem a bit overwhelmed," she observed.

"No more than you, I believe," James returned without any heat. Willow reached across the table to take his right hand, and squeezed it. He squeezed it back, just as gently.

"It is good to see you sober," he said softly. Willow grimaced.

"It's not as good to be it. Klein has me taking oxy pills to keep my head clear." She sighed. "I'll probably need to see Isabel about dealing with withdrawal. I... I can't afford to drink. Not now."

She gave James a wan smile.

"It's going to be hellish the next few days," she said quietly. Ironwood slowly nodded.

"I need your help, Willow," Ironwood said, direct and to the point as always, "Ozpin is hoping to announce a new alliance between Atlas, Vale, Pandu, and Menagerie in the next few weeks. In light of our... Future revelations."

Willow bit back an incredulous laugh.

"He doesn't think small, does he?" She asked. "And you need my help?"

"I do," Ironwood said, "If we're to defeat Salem... We need as many resources as possible. What would it take to get Jacques onboard... Or out of the way?"

"A lot," Willow admitted. "My grandsons have been giving me some hints and clues, but they didn't memorize all the details of how he was brought low. I'm looking through Warden's papers and some other things. There's plenty to build from, but as much as I hate to say it... Jacques is cunning."

Willow sighed and looked down at her hands.

"It would have been nice if I'd realized how cunning he was," she said softly. "If I had been more insightful. More cautious... Less foolish..."

"That won't help," Ironwood stated, firm but not unkind. Willow looked up at him and laughed quietly.

"No. No, it won't. Old habits are hard to break," she admitted softly. Ironwood nodded in quiet understanding.

"I suppose so," he replied.

Willow gave him a nostalgic smile.

"I am glad you are taking care of my girls, James," Willow said quietly, "And glad to have you with me in all this... Insanity. I wish you had been there for Whitley, too. I'm only now beginning to realize how... How much I failed him. Failed them all..." Her head bowed again.

"Self pity won't help," Ironwood reminded her gently. He reached out to tip her chin back up. She stared in surprise. "It never has, Willow. Whatever your challenges... I will do what I can to assist. I will offer protection for you and your family. I swear it."

Willow flushed slightly. She looked to the side and let out another small laugh.

"You know... I rather like you being this way," she admitted.

Ironwood shrugged, withdrawing his hand slowly.

"I suppose, in a way, we are family now," he said quietly.

Willow nodded.

"I think we've been that for longer. Though I didn't notice."

The door to the room opened. Winter Schnee entered, with Theodore walking alongside her. They both came to attention in front of the table, and Ironwood stood in greeting.

"Sir," Winter stated, "My son has completed the preliminary report from all the future children."

"I'm still working on Moses' side of things," Theodore said, handing over a holochip, "But he's sleeping in his mom's lab while she monitors him. Granny Izzy is going to give him an examination, see if she can't help his symptoms. But this is all the relevant information I could find on the Vytal attacks and some other White Fang operations."

Ironwood nodded, his smile faint but proud.

"Thank you," he said. Theodore nodded.

"There are... A few other details I haven't mentioned," he added. Winter gave him a frown. Theodore shook his head. "I ask that I be allowed to exercise my discretion in this matter for the time being. It is... Delicate."

Ironwood raised an eyebrow. Theodore remained very stoic and serious, a rarity from the young man.

"Does this involve the children of Cinder Fall?" He asked. Theodore slowly nodded. Ironwood frowned, but slowly nodded.

"I see. I will trust your discretion in this matter for the time being," he said. Theodore nodded, smiling softly.

"Thank you, sir." He turned to his mother, who frowned. "Trust me, Mother. Please."

Winter sucked in a breath, and slowly nodded.

"I believe you have earned it," she said, "But keep us apprised?"

"I will. Promise," Theodore said with a smile. "Now! Mother?" He handed her a holochip, "Here's everything I can tell you about your relationship with Dad. May I suggest you try something nice and casual for the first date? I've included a few pictures of things Dad really likes you to wear. I've got to handle a few other things."

Winter shook her head.

"Remember to get some rest, huh?" She awkwardly reached out and squeezed his shoulder. He smiled gently back, and squeezed her hand.

"I will," he said. A Schnee Glyph appeared behind him and he stepped back, vanishing. Winter inserted the holochip into her Scroll. She projected the first image... And blushed bright red at the very abbreviated outfit her future self was wearing.

"Oh my," Willow murmured, "Well, that will definitely get his attention."

"M-Mother!" Winter cried, turning off her Scroll. Ironwood raised an eyebrow.

"Given he's an Arc, you will need to be as direct as possible. Subtlety doesn't work on them."

"Absolutely," Willow nodded, "In fact Winter? You should wear less."

"Mother!"

"Given the competition you are up against, you will need every weapon in your arsenal to keep up," Ironwood added, "In this case, an all out assault would be the best approach."

"S-Sir!"

 

[cavalal386]

"That won't help," Ironwood stated, firm but not unkind. Winter looked up at him and laughed quietly.

Click to shrink...

where did winter come from?

"You know... I rather like you being this way," she admitted.

Click to shrink...

Willow: if can't have a blonde himbo, i'll settle for a military himbo instead.

The door to the room opened. Winter Schnee entered, with Theodore walking alongside her. They both came to attention in front of the table, and Ironwood stood in greeting.

Click to shrink...

so that's where she came from. she just teleported in to laugh and went to get her son.

"Oh my," Willow murmured, "Well, that will definitely get his attention."

"M-Mother!" Winter cried, turning off her Scroll. Ironwood raised an eyebrow.

"Given he's an Arc, you will need to be as direct as possible. Subtlety doesn't work on them."

"Absolutely," Willow nodded, "In fact Winter? You should wear less."

"Mother!"

"Given the competition you are up against, you will need every weapon in your arsenal to keep up," Ironwood added, "In this case, an all out assault would be the best approach."

"S-Sir!"

Click to shrink...

look their already acting like a married couple, teasing their daughter together and giving her dating advise from their experience in dealing with Arcs.

 

[zMADLAXz]

look their already acting like a married couple, teasing their daughter together and giving her dating advise from their experience in dealing with Arcs.

Click to shrink...

They are like divorced parents who separated on good terms and love their Daughter very much.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

They are like divorced parents who separated on good terms and love their Daughter very much.

Click to shrink...

That was my intention. Glad I got it across.

 

[Bev]

They are like divorced parents who separated on good terms and love their Daughter very much.

Click to shrink...

Well, they can get married. After an... Accident in the mines for Gelee.

 

[Grrrrrrr]

Here's a safer place to ask.

Cardin and velvet each end up eith 8 boys and 1 girl as a mirror to jaune's original dynamic.

hat about Ren and Nora. Baseball team or football team?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

"Hey Emerald."

Hearing Jaune call out to her didn't startle the green haired thief, and she didn't jump a bit as she turned around to face him. She just hadn't expected to see him after everyone was ushered out of the room so he could have a mostly private talk with his mother. It hadn't taken long for everyone to disperse after that, with all the girls splitting off into little groups to take care of a few odds and ends before getting ready for bed. Emerald had split off to close up her old dorm room for the night, taking her away from everyone else.

And there was Jaune, coming down the hallway with Penny a few feet behind him.

"Oh, Hi Jaune," Emerald managed to sound nonchalant. Was this a coincidence or did he seek her out? If he sought her out then what did he seek her out for? "What brings you here?"

"Looking for you actually," Jaune admitted with an undercurrent of concern in his voice. "I was hoping we could talk."

"Well then come in," Emerald smiled as she opened the door to her old dorm room, doing her best to not sound too eager to have his concern sent her way, "Take a seat, the fire suppressing system left most of them usable."

The two of them entered the room while Penny stood at attention in the open doorway. Emerald grabbed what was once Mercury's desk chair and spun it around so it faced away from Cinder's space in the room. Jaune grabbed another desk chair and flipped it around to face the green haired girl before sitting down with a softness in his eyes that drew Emerald in.

"What did you want to talk about?" She asked before she could get lost in that softness.

"Right," Jaune muttered with a bit of nervous energy bubbling to the surface, "So my mother shared some things about my family history I was unaware of and that's put several things into a new light for me." The blond boy heaved a anxious sigh, "I think this whole thing is going to end up being a harem."

Emerald failed to stop her snort of amusement, "Is there a reason you're not wanting to call this spade a spade?"

"The idea doesn't feel real to me just yet," Jaune admitted, "Like if I put a proper name to it then it will be real and I'll have to deal with all of the implications that come with it being real."

"I guess that makes sense," Emerald allowed with a nod. Then her gaze turned inquisitive. Having a harem was a fairly standard male fantasy, why would the fantasy scare him? "What implications are you worried about dealing with?"

"Oh man, where to start?" Jaune nervously chuckled for a moment, "I guess the greatest concern is going to be time. There are only so many hours in a day, and that means it's going to be an uphill struggle to give everyone the love and attention they deserve even if I somehow gained the best time management skills in the world. There's eleven of you, that means there's a very real possibility I'll come up short at some point."

Emerald nodded in acknowledgment. That was a fair concern, she supposed, but the fact he had even thought about it was a clear sign that they could work through it.

"Ninety percent of fixing a problem is figuring out what exactly the actual problem is and what caused it," Emerald reassured him. "Since you've identified the problem ahead of time we'll be able to avoid it."

"Maybe," The concern carried in Jaune's tone demanded her full attention, "But the reason I'm brining it up now is because if I fail it will hit you the hardest."

"What do you mean?" Surprise laced her words.

"Harem Politics would be the natural consequence of my failure," Jaune elaborated. "That means cliques and alliances will form and those cliques will compete against each other in little power plays aimed at monopolizing what I have to give at the expense of everyone else in the harem."

"I'm the odd woman out right now," Emerald's eyes widened with realization. That was a reality she had known since the brawl the day before; she had acted accordingly, but now the shortsightedness of those actions emerged from the mist. "I'd be the easiest person to cut out of the equation."

"Yeah, that's why I wanted to talk with you before anyone else, and why I looked for you now instead of waiting until tomorrow," Jaune leaned forward with clear tension in his shoulders. "I mean ideally we'll all get along well enough that competing cliques won't happen and we'll all be more or less equal partners in all of this, but in either case you can't afford to be the odd woman out."

"...Jaune, I... Thank you Jaune," Emerald stood up with a slight tremor in her lips. "Thank you for worrying about me..." She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, trying to push all of the gratitude she felt welling up inside into the action. "Now let me alleviate some of that worry: I promise I'll start building bridges with the others. In fact, I'll start tonight; there's a hatchet I should burry before we all go to bed."

Jaune's relieved smile would keep her heart warm for days to come.

------------------

Luck appeared to be smiling on Emerald this night, for she found the three of them together. May, Pyrrha and Arslan stood at a hallway junction that could be used to access both the regular dorms and the different guest dorms. The three of them were having a quiet discussion that trailed off as they noticed Emerald approaching, all of them glaring with different degrees of intensity. Pyrrha's glare edged on hostility, May's felt pitting and Arslan's was a picture of polite annoyance.

Emerald didn't allow herself to shrink beneath the weight of their combined stares as she walked right up to them, her intention to talk clear as she made herself part of their little circle.

"Do you need something Emerald?" The warrior nun asked in a controlled tone.

Emerald took a deep breath before ripping the proverbial bandage off; "Yes, and what I need is to apologize."

That pronouncement took the other young women by surprise, and they shared glances to that effect. May looked curious, Pyrrha suspicious, and Arslan was the neutral ground between those extremes. In any case she had their attention, so Emerald pressed on.

"I'm sorry," She forced the words out past her lips. "I'm sorry that I abandoned the plan during the fight, and that I actively sabotaged your own parts in it. I wanted the win to be my win and only my win, because it was the only thing I could think of that would get me on the same level as everyone else."

"What do you mean by on the same level? Why wouldn't you be on the same level as us?" May asked softly.

"From an objectively pragmatic standpoint I have the least to bring to the table," Emerald explained. "Ruby and Yang have parents that are friends with Jaune's parents, and that gives them an emotional connection that can compete with the raw wealth the Schnee Sisters have. You two," She pointed to Pyrrha and Arslan, "Aren't that far behind in the wealth department alongside Blake and you," She pointed to May, "Have both the emotional connection and the wealth an aspirant kingdom in your corner."

Pyrrha and Arslan looked contemplative, May looked like a deer in the headlights the instant her family's status was spelled out. In any case Emerald pressed on.

"Me? I'm a street rat whose situation was so desperate that I swore undying loyalty to the first person that offered to feed me. Two or three meals a day. That's all Cinder needed to buy my soul. The only things I can bring to the table is myself, and my skills." Emerald grabbed he right wrist with her left to stop the trembling that had just started, not even noticing she did so as she put insecurities into words, "And next to everyone here? Myself is objectively a loosing offer; I might be sexy but so is everyone else so that's not a reason to pick me. My personality? My everything revolved around Cinder, and since she tried to kill me my center has been ripped out. Objectively a bad pick when the rest of you have more than just Desperate Street Rat to fall back on."

This was more than Emerald had planned on sharing, but now that the words had started they were't stopping.

"So the two things that make me myself don't help my appeal, meaning all I have left to justify my place at the table are my skills." Emerald's eyes weren't focusing on anyone in particular and had taken on a wild edge. "But you're all the cream of the crop, the best of the best. If my skills were going to stand out in this crowd I'd need to do something big with them, something that would give me leverage that could make up for what everyone else has. So I gambled on the fight. It was the wrong choice and I just dragged all of us down instead of standing out. And for that? I'm sorry. I'm sorry my effort to stand out pushed us all down."

Her whole body was trembling now, and her voice also sook. She still felt compelled to continue.

"I don't, it's just-" A pair of hands gripped her shoulders tightly, cutting off her rambling before it could get much farther.

"I get it," May was right in front of her now, and Emerald wasn't sure when that happened. The sniper looked her in the eyes as she went on, "I really do. Before I learned about my parents yesterday my situation wasn't that different from yours, and if they hadn't existed and I was actually the orphan I thought I was? I could see myself getting desperate and trying a risky gamble too." May's gentle voice aimed to reassure even as her hands gave a comforting squeeze, as if she was expressing her forgiveness with that touch.

"It would be hypocritical of me to deny your apology when I am also seeking forgiveness," Arslan noted in a placid voice. "Especially if you're as sincere as you sound." The lioness then looked towards the floor somewhat bashfully, "And your deception isn't the only reason we lost the fight. In hindsight I should have disengaged when Pyrrha rushed in, or somehow signaled for her to pull back. In any case my response to the situation you put us in was the wrong one, so blaming you for our loss would be a pointless appeal to my own ego."

Arslan heaved a heavy sigh before looking Emerald in the eyes, "I'm willing to forgive you, and extend my trust a second time. I only ask that you not betray that trust again."

Emerald managed to nod, not sure if she could give a coherent verbal response as her emotions mixed about in ways unfamiliar to her.

Pyrrha looked back and fourth between the other women in the circle before squaring her shoulders and adding her two cents.

"The fight today was the biggest embarrassment I've had since I first picked up the blade," The redhead's tone was firm, but not unkind. "But that doesn't mean I'm unwilling to forgive you. We just need to reach a point where I know you won't turn on us like that again, and I'm willing to take the time to get to that point."

"Thank you," Emerald choked out, sagging in relief. The hatchet might not be completely buried yet, but a hole in the backyard had been dug and the hatchet placed inside it. They just needed some time to fill that hole with dirt.

As Emerald's relief washed over here the other three women shared a look and asked a silent question of each other. A brief dance of uncertain looks, raised eyebrows and head tilts ensued, coming to a conclusion with surprising swiftness all things considered. With a consensus reached Arslan cleared her throat to grab the green haired girl's attention.

"Before you got here the three of us were discussing things we could do together at the festival while we wait for our dates with Jaune," The lioness explained. "Would you like to join us for something?"

"Yeah," Emerald grabbed the offered olive branch with both hands, "I would. What kind of things were you thinking about?"

"Well," May perked up, "Pyrrha was telling us about an ice cream parlor her team visited a few weeks ago..."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

"Goodnight Xander."

"Goodnight Dad."

"Goodnight Julian."

"Night Dad!"

"Goodnight Xia."

"Goodnight Dad."

"Goodnight Petra."

"Goodnight Father."

"Goodnight Leander, Leandra."

"Night Pops." "Sleep tight Pops"

"Goodnight Theodore."

"Goodnight Pops."

"Goodnight Nicholas."

"Goodnight Father."

"Goodnight Amethyst."

"Goodnight Daddy."

"Goodnight Dorothy."

"Night Dad."

"Goodnight Ash, Ashley."

"Goodnight Dad.""Goodnight Pops."

"Goodnight August."

"Goodnight Father."

Jaune smiled as he made his way to the door, finding his children had been easier than he expected. He had originally thought that he'd be looking all over the campus for them, but Theodore had gathered them all up for the task of getting all of the important details about the different futures written down for planning purposes. They hadn't dispersed by the time Jaune had decided to wish them goodnight so it had only taken a few minutes to track them down once he and Penny had started looking.

Which was a good thing because he was about ready to crash for the night.

"If any of you need anything you'll know where to find me," Jaune yawned as he passed through the doorway, Penny a few steps behind him.

"Alright Dad," Amethyst called out, "We'll see you in the morning!"

"Right, see you all then," Jaune looked over his shoulder, "Goodnight everyone."

That set off another round of goodnights from his children all at once, and Penny closed the door once they were done.

It didn't take long for him to wander back to his dorm room, where he was greeted by a faint giggling as he opened that door.

"What are you two up to?" Jaune asked between two yawns.

Nora was in a sundress and had a picnic basket hanging off of her right arm, a giddy smile on her face as she giggled away behind her left hand. Ren was in a button-up shirt with a formal ascot and a nice pare of slacks, a book of poetry in his hands.

"We're going to go on a moonlit stroll around campus followed by a little rooftop picnic," The magenta eyed boy explained.

"That sounds nice," Jaune nodded as he pulled out his pajamas and started getting ready for bed.

"When do you plan on returning?" Penny inquired as she checked the parameter of the room.

"In a couple of hours-" "Sunrise." The two answered simultaneously.

Ren looked to Nora, who was sending her best smolder his way.

"Think about it Renny; You, Me, cuddled up for warmth with the stars as our blanket, kissing the hours away." Nora began to waggle her eyebrows, "If we find a secluded enough spot we might be able to do more than just kissing..."

"Well..." Ren tugged at the collar of his shirt as he thought about it, his cheeks flushing red. "If we stay up til sunrise you'll sleep through our history class tomorrow."

"So?" Nora asked.

"And history class won't get you enough sleep for all the things we could be doing together at the festival tomorrow afternoon." Ren reasoned.

"Hmmm..." Nora pouted as she considered that point. There were some things she wanted to do with her Renny at the festival. "I guess we can get some sleep tonight."

"And since we have proper beds we might as well use them..."

"Alright, we'll be back in a couple of hours," Nora allowed.

"Splendid!" Penny clapped her hands, "I'll make sure the defenses are set up in a way that will allow you to return."

Jaune might have asked what kind of defenses she ment, but his head had already hit the pillow and the words of his friends sounded a lot farther away then they actually were.

The last thing he heard before entering dreamland was Ren and Nora going out the door.

-------------------

"So, Xander, Amethyst, you and your Moms shared a room last night?" Ash asked. "Will you guys be sharing a room again tonight?"

"We did, and I think we are," Xander confirmed. "Why do you want to know?"

"Well, we'd rather not sleep in the infirmary again," Ashley explained. "Do you think it'd be a problem if we joined you guys?"

Xander and Amethyst shared a thoughtful look, and after some silent deliberation Amethyst answered.

"Well the room is big enough, and I don't mind," Amethyst noted. "I don't think my mom would mind either... What about you Xander?"

"I don't think my mother would object," Xander affirmed after a moment of further thought, "So you can join us."

"Great! And thanks," Ash smiled a bit at that, "We'll get some bedding for ourselves and meet you there. What's the room number?"

The number was given, and Cinder's twins split off in a different direction as the future children dispersed for the night. The two of them soon found their way to one of the linen closets and Ash began the process of picking out the right pillows and sheets. His sister had pulled out her scroll in the meantime and had opened the main messaging program.

"Still no answer. Do you think we should try again tonight?" She asked.

"Well, sending another message wouldn't hurt," Ash sighed as he found a pillow with just the right balance of give and firmness. "Maybe we should add times when we know we'll be free to talk on this one?"

"That sounds like a decent idea..." Ashley muttered as she began to compose her thoughts and typed away.

Mom, these are our numbers, and these times are good times to call...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

North Sanus, Gallia

One Month after the Vytal Attacks

- - -

Tracking down Adam had been difficult. He was good at concealing his movements, and in the chaos after Vytal, he had plenty of ways to hide.

However, he was the one who trained Blake how to track. And whatever else he was, he was a good teacher.

Blake was a good student.

The train station was an older one on an automated cargo rail line. It was nestled in a grove of pine trees, in the depths of a verdant valley. The station itself had been abandoned for a long time, rusty roof tiles and fading paint. She could see piles of cargo boxes arranged haphazardly, a few White Fang flunkies doing some work... And that familiar figure in black with red hair standing on the platform, staring out into space.

"ADAM!"

Adam slowly turned to face her, unhurried. He stared at her through that mask. She stood there, taking deep breaths in her anger and fear. The other White Fang members turned and began to draw their weapons, but Adam held up his hand and they backed down.

"Have you come to your senses?" Adam asked, calm and condescending, "Finally decided to return? Beg for forgiveness?"

"No," Blake growled, drawing Gambol Shroud, "I'm here to kill you."

Adam looked amused.

"For your human boytoy? For the scars I inflicted upon him?" Adam asked, "For all the human lives I've taken?"

Blake lunged, her cleaver nearly going through Adam's neck if he hadn't drawn Wilt in time to deflect her strike.

"For everything," Blake hissed, dashing forward while wildly swinging her weapon in flail mode.

Adam was initially driven back by her ferocity. She had a clone split off to charge him, while she flanked Adam and opened up in gun mode. Adam smoothly deflected her bullets and used Wilt's sheath to fire back. She dropped under the shotgun blast, sliding forward to swing her chain around his ankles. She leaped up, and Adam was sent crashing to the ground. She shifted her weapon to blade mode and charged, intent on thrusting the blade through his strernum!

He lashed out with a punch which she powered through, but it was enough to stall her momentum. She punched him back, knocking his head back before he lashed out with a powerful kick to her stomach. She pulled back, leaving a clone in her place, but he cut right through it and slapped her in the face with the flat of his blade.

"UNGH!"

He backhanded her and in the same motion, unleashed a blast from his shotgun at point blank range. Another kick and she was sent flying into the wall of the train station ticket booth. She slumped, tried to get back up... But Adam swung his blade, and unleashed Moonslices. Not powerful enough to cut her into pieces... But they burned scars across her flesh right through her Aura.

"UNGH! AAHHH!" She slumped, then Adam was upon her and seized her throat.

"Hurk!"

He lifted her up as she struggled, kicking and punching. He shook his head.

"You were never able to beat me, Blake," he stated smoothly, "This... Was inevitable. This is destiny."

"Nngh...!" Blake tried to cry out, but Adam tightened his grip on her throat as she clawed at his arm. It didn't seem to phase him a bit.

"Your dalliance with the human is something I'm willing to forgive, in time," Adam went on, "After all... I was your first."

"Y-You...!" Adam loosened his grip just a bit, and she gasped before she spat out, "He's... Better than you... In every way!"

"So why isn't he with you?" Adam taunted, tightening his grip again. She flailed and grit her teeth, glaring death back at him. Adam smirked.

"Oh... I see. You abandoned them too, huh? Like I said, inevitable."

He slammed her against the wall, making a dent in the rusting tin as she squirmed.

"You might have thought you loved that man... But in the end, I know you better than anyone," Adam continued, "Because only I know what you need. What you desire. All of mankind at our feet, and me by your side. You will be a queen, Blake. It is what you are meant to be. Why else would you have run off... And come back to me?"

Blake seethed, tears running down her cheeks. Despair welled up in her chest as she saw the other White Fang goons begin to surround them.

Is he right?

The image of Jaune lying in a hospital bed, covered in scars, assaulted her mind. Adam had targeted him specifically during the attack, had beaten him to near death. Had burned scars into his body.

He'd taken Yang's arm when she'd tried to protect Jaune. He'd had his forces keep Ruby and Weiss from getting to Pyrrha... Pyrrha...

And what had Blake done? Just run off on her own, again. Left her boyfriend in a coma at the hospital.

The distant sound of a train whistle couldn't break her despair. She'd run away and abandoned the people she loved. Like she always had... Like she always...

A massive golden Aura slash erupted from the trees, ripping apart half the train platform and scattering the White Fang goons. Adam let Blake drop to the floor, leaving her gasping for breath, as he pulled his sword to parry a strike from a familiar blade. Blake gaped in amazement and horror as Jaune stood there, in full armor, his sword and shield repaired as he crossed blades with Adam.

"Here to save your pet, human?" Adam asked mockingly. "You don't seem to understand-"

"You talk too damn much!" Jaune snarled, and he swung his blade. The two exchanged blows furiously, Adam's speed and power being countered by Jaune's strength and agility. Adam jumped back and unleashed a Moonslice, but Jaune powered up and swung Crocea Mors to unleash another Aura slash. Red met gold, and the two blasts exploded against one another.

"HURK!"

Blake covered her eyes against the brightness of the flash, but lowered them immediately when she heard Jaune's cry. She gaped in horror as she saw Jaune standing there, Wilt buried in his gut, Adam smirking as he drove the blade in deeper. Blood ran from the wound, as Jaune shuddered and dropped his sword and shield.

"JAUNE!" Blake screamed.

Jaune shakily lifted his hands up to grab onto Adam's shoulders. The bull Faunus chuckled softly, as deadly as his blade, as he twisted Wilt inside to make Jaune groan in pain.

"You seem to forget," Adam gloated, "I'm the hero of this story. You are merely a side character, a distraction. Blake will eventually forget her dalliance with you. She will be mine, Remnant will be ours... And you will not even be a memory. You pathetic fraud. Loser. Weakling."

A train whistle sounded in the distance, and the roar of Dust powered engines began to get louder.

Jaune gritted his teeth in a savage grin. Adam scowled as Jaune's grip tightened on his shoulders.

"What's that stupid smile for, moron?"

"You can't see what my hands are doing, can you?"

Two small explosives slid out of Jaune's gauntlets, and he pressed them to Adam's shoulderblades. The bull Faunus's jaw dropped, he pulled away, let go of his sword and tried to remove his coat-

The twin explosions again forced Blake to shut her eyes. When she opened them, blinking the afterimages away, Adam stood there as a bloody wreck. His arms hung limp, bloody, ruined. He gaped in rage and horror at Jaune... Who lifted up his foot and kicked him in the gut towards the tracks.

"YOU-!"

The automated train roared by, covering Adam's scream with its loud horn and rush of the wind as it passed by. It headed off into the distance, not a trace of Adam left behind.

Jaune's knees wobbled, buckled, and finally bent as he fell to the rotting platform. Blake dragged herself over to him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Jaune... Jaune," Blake sobbed. "I... I'm so sorry... I'm so, so sorry..."

Jaune wrapped an arm around her tightly, and pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay," Jaune whispered, "It's okay..."

They fell back onto the wooden platform together, blood loss and exhaustion forcing them both into unconsciousness.

- - -

When Blake awoke, it was to a well furnished hospital room. The beeping of medical machines and smell of disinfectant assaulted her senses. She looked around frantically from her bed.

"Jaune?! JAUNE?!"

He was laying in a bed next to her, groaning. His torsoe was heavily bandaged. Blake felt a strong but gentle hand take hold of her shoulder, and push her back down. She looked up: A familiar woman was pushing her back down.

"If you don't mind, I don't want either of you hurt yourself more than you already have," Isabel Arc stated flatly. Blake blinked.

"Wh... Where are we?"

"Radian. Arc-En-Ciel hospital," Isabel stated, "My son, for once, remembered to call in back up and aid. The rest of your teams are here too. My husband got you both out of there with his team and a hospital Bullhead."

Blake stared, and slowly nodded.

"I... I see," she whispered.

Isabel scowled at her deeply, and Blake shrank back.

"My son risked his life to save you-Twice," Isabel stated firmly, "You obviously mean a lot to him."

"... I know," Blake whispered, looking back at him.

"So, the least you could do is try not get him killed in the future," Isabel stated angrily. Blake winced, and bowed her head.

"... I know."

Isabel sighed slowly. She reached out and pulled Blake into a hug. Blake tensed up, but relaxed into the gentle warmth of her embrace.

"I can understand how hard it can be to face your true feelings," Isabel murmured, "But it's better than running away from them. Believe me."

She let Blake go. She turned and left, leaving Blake and Jaune alone in the quiet room of beeping machines.

She glanced at a small mirror by the side of her bed. She took it up, and stared at her reflection. Faint scars crisscrossed her flesh. She slid a hand underneath her hospital gown, tracing the lines left behind.

"Hey," Jaune murmured. Blake dropped the mirror, and struggled out of the bed. She became lightheaded with the first step, but she managed to get to the bed and Jaune's arms. He pulled her into his embrace, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Jaune," Blake whispered, looking up into his eyes, "I... How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," Jaune admitted. Blake nodded.

"Same," she murmured. She looked up at him slowly. She reached up to touch his cheek, the whisker-like scars carved into his cheeks still dark and obvious. Scars Adam had left.

Jaune reached down to trace her own scars with his rough hands. She shivered softly, and leaned into him. His hands slid up and down her body, one going to scratch behind her ears while the other stroked up and down her back. They stayed like that in silence for a time.

"... I'm sorry," Blake murmured. "It... It's all my fault-"

"Blake," Jaune whispered, "Enough, okay? That's not helping. I wasn't... I wasn't going to let the woman I love face that monster alone."

Blake looked up into his eyes. She licked her lips.

"But you're scarred, and injured, all because of-"

"So are you," Jaune whispered. He cupped her cheek tenderly. "Because that's what you do for people you love."

Tears boiled at the corners of her eyes, warmth filling her soul. She slid up and kissed him deeply, a kiss he returned.

"... I love you too," she whispered against his lips. Jaune smiled, and nuzzled her.

"Just... Promise me one thing?" He asked. Blake nodded.

"Anything," she murmured, "I'll do the most depraved, debauched things in my books with you, I'll-!"

"Uh," Jaune blushed, "I-I mean, I'm glad and... Yeah, we'll do that... But what I want more than that? Just promise me... No more running away." He squeezed her hand. "Whatever comes in the future? We... We face it together."

Blake stared back at him. She bit her lower lip and slowly nodded. She squeezed his hand back.

"... I promise."

 

[zMADLAXz]

Anything," she murmured, "I'll do the most depraved, debauched things in my books with you, I'll-!"

Click to shrink...

Blake, sweetheart, you got to stop being horny on main.

Sometimes your partner want you to be actually there.