CHAPTER 1

Cinder Fall was a monster.

"An apt description." Jaune snorted

She knew this. She'd lied, cheated and stole for her entire life.

Cinder tsked silently as she remembered her life on the streets and even before then, her home life. She had made a promise, she would never let herself be treated like before, she will not fears others. No, they would fear her!

Oh, and killed. It turned out that she had a particular talent for that last one.

"If I had any respect for little Cinder, it would be for that." Tyrian gave a backhanded compliment.

She'd killed for money, for power, for revenge, for respect,

Roman could give credit for Cinder there, hell, he was the same. Though he still pulled it off with better grace and finesse.

She'd killed because she'd been told to, she'd killed because she wanted to. She'd become so proficient at in fact, that she drew attention of a very exclusive group, one that was, shockingly, even more dangerous than she was.

Salem and her inner circle knew she meant them. Hazel nor Salem gave nothing away whilst Watts hmph'd with a smile and Tyrian followed with a laugh.

They'd promised her power, and power meant not having to ever go back to being a scared little girl on the streets. She hadn't been able to sell her soul fast enough.

The god of Light silently shook his head, Humanity was given a second chance and here they are, wasting it for their own gains and power.

Funny that he ignored the girls suffering in favour of condemning her desperation. Like many gods do.

Cinder Fall was a monster, it was known far and wide. Only one person didn't have any clue of what Cinder Fall truly was, and she'd kill to keep it that way.

"Oh, boss lady has a crutch?" Roman snickered as Cinder was confused.

'What? Wait this is an alternate world, I have no such weakness, but it's still a shame that some other me could allow such a thing.'

Her hand found the handle to the front door of her home. A simple, yet stylish, one floor ranch home in the suburbs of Vale, complete with a small yard and meticulously cared for flower bed. She pushed through the entrance to her home and transformed.

"Honey, I'm home!"

Some of the older audience chuckled at the cliché soap opera line while Mercury and Emerald were shocked at the sudden change, it was just so unlike her.

Cinder wasn't so shocked, she knew she'd have to act different if she were to pull off such an act.

"Cinder has a boyfriend?" Yang asked perplexed.

"Or a husband." Weiss added.

"Either way I feel sorry for that guy." Yang chuckled.

Cinder over heard this. "Oh dear, the bimbo seems to forget what I can offer." Cinder gestured to herself. "Compared to yourself."

"Hey if my injury makes me chopped liver, does that mean you're burnt liver?"

Cinder had a tick at that but pulled herself together. "Yet my damaged self is still more appealing than some street whore you seem to be." Electricity was practically shooting from both their eyes at each other. Until Con' gave a small burst of his power to make them settled down.

Salem turned to her underling and thought to herself. 'Hopefully her love doesn't decide something is more important than her.' She sent a look at Ozpin at this.

"So who do you think it is?" Ruby asked her team and friends.

Jaune looked at the screen before a look of dread passed his face. "No." he muttered as he dragged the word out.

His friends manged to hear him. "What is it Jaune?" Pyrrha asked in concern.

"Cindy? I'm in the kitchen!" Came a familiar voice, one that sounded like home.

Now all the audience looked with shocked eyes.

Those from Beacon and Cinder's group jaws to the floor and eye brows to the ceiling at the revelation.

"What the…?" Mercury started.

"FUCK!?" Emerald finished.

RWBY looked as though they had walked in on their parents having a threesome with each other's partners.

Jaune raised his voice to speaking volume. "No, no, no!" he was ready to find his sword and end it.

Nora pinched herself to see if it wasn't some dream or nightmare in this case. Ren offered his arm to Nora and, without looking at him, pinched him as well. Both having yet to pick up their jaws.

Pyrrha was damn near having a heart attack.

If Cinder though the first viewing was bad then this was horrifying.

She weaved her way through the living room and walked into the kitchen, a smile coming to her face as she saw him. Clad in a 'kiss the cook' apron and cutting up chicken by the sink, with his ridiculous mop of blond hair and deep blue eyes, and that dumb smile on his face, the one that was reserved for her.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Jaune grabbed his head as he screamed.

Con' decided to be merciful and paused the screen. Seeing a fraction of his audience were having their minds blown, they wouldn't be able to watch what else was in store.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?" Jaune and Cinder bellowed at the same time as they looked to their host for answers. Both then looked at each other in shock and horror.

"Aww, their first words together." Tyrian was really underestimating the killing intent that was radiating off the Fall Maiden, Salem would not be able to save him, hell even Con' may have some trouble if he kept up.

"I'm with this fool?!"

"I'm with this monster?!"

Both shot glares at each other this time. "Stop it!" they both demanded and screamed in rage as the one kept repeating the other.

"Hey babe, you're late. I was starting to wonder if I was going to find you bleeding out on the street again."

"What the hell?"

"It's probably not the worst way to meet someone." Taiyang then hand to rub his now sore foot after Summer stepped on it.

She scoffed. "Jaune, that happened once."

He raised an eyebrow. "Does it need to happen more than once?"

She smirked as she slid up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I remember it worked out well for you." She purred.

"Because I got to meet you?"

"Because you got laid."

Saphron did not need to hear that. In fact she didn't know whether to cover her ears, curl up into a ball and cry or stab a bitch. Thank god Terra was here to hold her.

He chuckled. "You're bad."

"You have no idea."

He turned into her, arms finding their way around her. "What happened?"

She sighed. "I got caught up at work. Long day."

"Oh "Work" Huh?" Jaune quoted with his fingers.

He leaned down a kissed her forehead. "Sorry baby. Why don't you go get changed and relax? I'll bring you something to drink."

She rested her head on his chest. "That sounds nice."

"Then go, I'll be there in a minute." He said, turning her out of the kitchen with a swat on the behind to send her on her way.

Roman couldn't take it anymore "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" he dropped from his seat as he gasped for air. "I can't- AHAHAHA! I can't breathe!" he then crawled to Con' and grasped his arms as he pulled himself up.

"Thank you! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this!" he then continued to shake with laughter and he held onto the other worldly being who was unmoved.

If looks could kill, both Roman and Jaune would be a pile of ashes. Roman for obvious reasons and Jaune for the witnessed smack on said behind. And this death glare wasn't just from Cinder, someone else was even greener with envy.

Mercury had a new found respect for the Arc after such a bold move.

'It's okay Jaune, she may have stolen your heart but she hasn't taken everything yet!' Jaune internally calmed himself.

A few minutes later, Cinder emerged from her room, clad in the uniform of conquers.

Roman was practically dying at this point with Watts and Tyrian joining him.

Sweatpants and a Pumpkin Pete hoodie that her husband had lost the battle for in the opening weeks of their relationship.

'Fuck!' Jaune thought. She had taken everything.

She'd called it childish, but it'd grown on her, and now it, like him, were hers.

She made her way to the living room, plopping down in her chair. A rich, dark leather recliner that she would have said had far too much padding, till Jaune had shown her the error of her ways. He was good at that.

"I don't believe it, I'm watching it but im still not believing it." Yang didn't know to laugh at the situation or feel bad for this Jaune.

"Just what are we watching?" Blake truly didn't know at this point.

Her apron clad knight appeared shortly after, his weapon of choice…

"Sword! Go for the sword!" Jaune cried.

…a martini, in hand.

"Damnit!"

"Here you go baby."

She gratefully accepted the drink. "My hero." She said, as she patted the area on the seat next to her, inviting him to sit.

"Tell me about it?" He asked as he settled in beside her.

She sighed. "So, we've got a big acquisition coming up right? So, we're having to outsource, and these contractors are killing me."

"That bad?"

"Jaune, they're the worst. This one…Sadam-"

Face palms at this point whilst Adam snarled.

Emerald spoke. "I don't think he'll buy that name."

"That's a weird name."

Jaune smacked himself at that.

"Wait, why change the name? It's not like the name "Adam" is uncommon." Sun asked.

"Don't worry about it. Anyway, he's providing the muscle-er, manpower, and he's just so needy. He's constantly droning on and on about 'what his people are owed' and 'getting their due,' and I keep having to tell him this is the best deal he's going to get."

Que more snarling at that.

Blake on the other hand "Oh my God, someone finally put it into words."

"Is it a good deal?"

"To die for, babe. We're really going to rock this city to its core, if he'd just listen."

"How much more obvious can you be?" Mercury shook his head.

"To be fair, not a lot of people plan on destroying a kingdom." Ren came to his leaders defence. Even if his taste in women was dangerous.

He chuckled. "You sure love hyperbole."

She smiled. "Don't I though?" She scowled again. "But that's not the worst part! He keeps whining about his ex. Is there anything more annoying? I think I'm going to adopt it as a torture method."

"Stalker alert." Yang stage whispered, making a few chuckle and Blake smile. Point 1 for Yang.

"What?"

"Just a joke Jaune." She smiled at him conspiratorially. "Besides, I have people for that."

He shook his head. "You're weird. So, I'm guessing they didn't end on good terms?"

She snorted. "She literally ran away."

His eyes widened. "Wow, that's intense. Does he wear all black to complete the image?"

Neo was giving Roman CPR at this point.

She gave him a look.

"Holy shit! He does?!"

"Jaune, his last name might as well be Lord, first name Edge."

Said edge lord looked ready to kill everyone in the room.

He chuckled. "You don't have the most expressive of wardrobes either, you know." He picked at the hoodie. "Though Pete does look good on you."

She flicked him. "Hush you. I make everything look good."

'Damn right I do.'

He smirked. "You love me."

She ran a hand along his cheek. "I do." The oven beeped from the other room. "Now go fulfil your house husband duties and feed us."

He snorted as he got up. "Just be glad one of us can cook. I swear you could burn water."

"It's a talent."

"Wait, is that why you never cooked? Not because you're the boss but because you're a shit cook?" despite not knowing it, Emerald saved Mercury by shutting him up with a back hand to the balls.

Her scroll rang, and she glanced at the caller ID.

Roman. She groaned.

"You ok?" Jaune asked from the kitchen.

"Fine, it's just a work call."

She flicked the answer button, audio only of course.

"What?" She growled.

"Someone's in a mood."

"Roman, I have neither the time, nor the patience for this. I'm about to go into a VERY important meeting."

"Some meeting." Roman snorted.

"Um, kinda is." Jaune said "What? Im cooking, she better damn well eat it, no calls or anything." Jaune continued after the looks he got.

Saphron remembered the time when Jaune had cooked for the family and when she said she needed to take an important call, he took her scroll and chucked it out the window.

"Ok, ok! Geez, I just wanted to give you an update on the Dust."

"Speak." She demanded.

There was silence from the other end of the line for a moment. "We're behind schedule."

"By yours truly." Ruby boasted proudly.

"I'm not a woman to disappoint Roman. How far behind?"

He took a deep breath. "I need another two weeks to do it safely."

"Roman, you misunderstand, it's your safety I'm concerned about. About what will happen to you and the imp you cavort around with if you fail to meet the deadline."

Neo grew an offended look 'Imp?!'

Roman turned to Jaune. "Kid, if watching this is a learning experience, learn to never forget anything, anniversaries being very important."

She could hear him sweating. "But I-"

"If that Dust isn't in the warehouse by Friday, there will be-"

Jaune called to her from the kitchen. "Cinnamon bun, do you want potatoes or rice with the chicken?"

""Cinnamon bun"?" Mercury then shut up at the fiery glare.

"Hold on you fool." She whispered into the phone, before covering the receiver. "Do we have sweet potatoes?" She yelled back to her husband.

"Yep! I'll put them on."

"Thank you, baby! You're my kitchen knight!"

"He really is." Nora liked his cooking.

"The one and only!"

She removed her hand from the receiver. "They will tell stories about what happens to you for years if you fail me."

"Who was that?"

"Someone that could have you killed with a word. Now, do we understand each other?"

"Yes." Came the forlorn reply.

"Yes, what?" She hissed.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good. One way or another, we'll see each other Friday."

She ended the call before he could think of something clever.

"Cinnamon bun? Are you done with your call? Can you set the table?" A voice that sounded like home asked.

"Who do you think you're ordering?"

"Of course, my knight!" She answered instantly.

Jaune looked at her with a smug look, "I think im ordering you." She growled at the fool.

"Enough with the sexual tension you two."

Jaune looked back at Cinder, "If you kill anyone, can it be him?" Qrow flipped him off in return while Summer elbowed the drunk.

Cinder Fall was a monster yes, but to Jaune, she was simply his wife…and she'd kill to keep it that way.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

CHAPTER 2

Cinder Fall was a monster.

"It's been established." Yang snorted.

Emerald Sustrai knew this, but in truth, held somewhat softer feelings for the woman.

'Oh please, that's an understatement. If Em was a guy, those feelings would be hard.' Mercury internally spoke as he outwardly rolled his eyes.

To her, Cinder Fall was an animal. A vicious, apex predator to be sure, but one that craved the same things all animals did. Safety and comfort.

Neo knew what that was like, to desire those two seemingly simple things. That's why she stayed with Roman, the ice cream and the hurting people being bonuses.

She didn't understand the source of her comfort, but then, no one had asked her. But if she understood one thing about animals, it's that you didn't get between them and what was theirs.

Not if you wanted to stay amongst the living.

And so, Emerald began her weekly ritual of standing in front of the Arc-Fall…

Cinder raised an eyebrow at that but conceded that 'Fall-Arc' didn't really roll of the tongue. Wait? What were these thoughts? She should be disgusted! Not contemplating last names like some lovey dovey fool!

…door, trying to purge anything from her mind that might incriminate her boss...to her husband...people were weird.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and knocked twice. The face that answered the door was friendly, almost unreasonably friendly, with its bright blue eyes and goofy grin.

"Hey Em! How's it going?" Jaune asked, as he leaned against the door frame.

"Oh, you know, just keeping busy."

"Wonder how many people you robbed to consider a day busy."

"Eat shit Merc'. Don't try and make my talents out to be a bad thing."

"I, um, like your new outfit?" He said, glancing down at her.

My new outfit?

She looked down at her usual outfit, one that was meant to draw eyes places other than her hands, and realized what he meant. She had made a habit of changing into something a bit more...conservative, before coming over in the past.

She mentally shrugged. Damage done.

It's not like I can use my Semblance on him now.

"I was, uh...hiking. It's a new hobby." She lied.

"Don't fall for it…"

"Cool." He accepted easily…

"Oh God damnit me."

…Stepping back and holding the door open. "Come on in and have a seat, I'll go grab Cindy."

"Thanks." I'll never get used to this.

She made her way to the living room and settled on the couch, sitting opposite of what she'd learned was 'Cinder's chair.'

Black leather couch…shocker.

"Are you calling me predictable Emerald?" Cinder stared into Emeralds eyes as she asked this. Said thief just looked back at the screen.

'Basic Bitch more like' Neo texted to Roman who quietly laughed at that.

She was quick to stand when Cinder entered the room, despite Jaune waving for her to remain seated.

"Ma'am." She greeted.

"Cinder." She corrected with a glance at Jaune, motioning for her to take a seat as she found her own. "How are you Emerald?"

"I'm well Cinder. I have an update about the situation at the…office, like you asked." She tried.

Cinder nodded absently. "Yes?"

Emerald coughed and shot a glance towards Jaune, happily resting on his own plush, brown recliner. "We uh, found out where the water was coming from and-"

"Fascinating." Cinder cut her off, eyes scanning over her, before narrowing. "Emerald that is a…adventurous outfit."

Now any Woman that had, has or intent to have a lover knew where this was going, Kali herself was wearing a Cheshire grin. Raven, despite her past, knew this feeling all too well also.

Salem remembered the days when she and Ozma were together during the days of the old world, many women liked Ozma for being such a powerful wizard.

It was up to Salem to show them that she was in fact, quite powerful herself and show Ozma why she was the better woman.

'Yes Cinder.' She thought, 'Show any hussies that he belongs to you.'

Uh oh.

"Yeah, she started hiking recently apparently! Surprised me too, I always thought she was a city girl." Jaune offered.

"Hiking? That must be quite a lot of work. My and doesn't she look thirsty? Jaune, could you be a dear and grab our resident 'hiker' some water?"

Oh fuck.

"Indeed." Ghira could tell what was happening, having to stop Kali from permanently damaging any women that tried to seduce him.

"No, no, no! I'm fine!" She blurted out, leaning forward out of her seat.

Cinder tsked. "Nonsense dear, you look positively parched."

Jaune smiled and motioned for her to sit as he stood. "It's just water Em, I'll be right back."

"Thank you dear, take your time." Cinder encouraged.

"Is this about to become some snuff film?" Mercury asked

Emerald's eyes followed him in silent horror as he merrily left her to her doom, Cinder's gaze boring into her. As soon as he cleared the room, she snapped back to the dark-haired woman.

"It's not what you're thinking!"

Cinder raised an eyebrow. "You know what I'm thinking? Is that your Semblance now?"

"N-no, I just-"

"Part of me is surprised you didn't try to use your Semblance on me while you showed off, though I would have known of course."

Emerald's brow creased at that. "How-"

"Because I always know." She said, leaving no room for argument. "Though this," she made a gesture towards the green-haired girl, "cavorting around in front of me AND my husband? Might be worse."

"Protective." Qrow remarked.

"Most people are when others try to steal what they cherish most." Summer joked.

Emerald's jaw worked up and down silently for a moment, sweat trickling down her forehand. "I-"

"Got the water!" Jaune announced, as he re-entered the room, delivering it with a flourish. "Here you go Em."

"T-thanks."

"For the water or for coming back?"

"No problem!" He said, as he walked back over to his chair. "What where you guys talking about? Water in the office? Like a leak?"

"Precisely dear." Cinder answered, staring Emerald down.

She winced. Ok, I probably could have been a bit more inventive with that one.

He shrugged. "I can take care of it for you, no need to hire someone."

"Responsible, smart, caring, listener, a cook, cleaner and a plumber? Hard to believe he's single." Harriet smirked as Jaune blushed.

Winter turned to her sister. "Sister, you claimed that Arc tried to court you before?"

Weiss slowly nodded. "That I did?"

"And you turned down his advances?"

"Yes…"

Winter hummed before turning away. "A shame you let such a catch go." Winter smirked to herself as she could hear Weiss chocking on her own spit as Ruby smacked her back to help.

"That's ok!" Emerald rushed out. "We've got a guy!"

"Are you sure? I'm pretty handy."

Cinder patted his arm and gave him a warm smile. "I know dear, but I think that this was caused by lack of proper maintenance, and I simply insist that people clean up their own messes. Isn't that right Emerald?"

The tan girl nodded numbly.

"Well ok, if you're sure…"

"Certain, my knight. After all, this should be taken care of by…"

"Tomorrow!" Emerald snapped out, sitting on the edge of her seat.

Cinder once again raised an eyebrow as she contemplated. Good results without the threat of pain or death? And all because of Arc? Interesting.

"Excellent." Cinder nodded, before turning to Jaune and motioning to Emerald. "Dear, look at how stressed she is."

He frowned. "You ok Em?"

"Great! Never better! Fantastic!"

Cinder shook her head slowly. "Poor thing's a mess. Jaune, could you go get some wine for us all? Maybe that will calm her nerves."

"Sure!" He agreed, popping up again.

'NO!'

"NO!" She practically shrieked, reaching out to stop him.

"Emerald." Cinder warned in a low tone, forcing her back down into her seat. "Our home is your home, and apparently, what is mine is yours."

"Very protective." Kali snuggled against her husband as she enjoyed the viewing.

Jaune shook his head. "Geez Em, you're frazzled. I'll grab some of the good stuff for us, won't be two shakes."

DON'T LEAVE ME!

"Oh, I think we still have a bottle of the Mistralian left dear, see if you can find it." Cinder offered as he walked towards the kitchen.

Emerald would bet every dollar she'd ever stolen that bottle didn't exist. She winced as his footsteps faded.

"Cinder, I would never-"

"Oh?" She drawled. "Do you not find my Jaune attractive?"

Pyrrha's arm rests nearly cracked under the pressure of her hold on them. HER JAUNE?!

"No! I mean yes!"

"Should have stayed with no." Kali tutted.

"Really? I'd figure that yes would be safer." Sienna questioned.

"Well personally, say I ask you if you think my husband is dashing and you say no, I'd believe that it's just a matter of opinion. If you said yes, then I would see you as competition that needs to go." The smile that followed seemed kind and warm, but the women knew it was a threat if any dared go for what was hers.

She hummed. "So, you admit to being attracted to my husband."

This is hell. Mercury smothered me in my sleep last night, and I'm currently in hell.

"Not that I could particularly blame you of course. After all, I chose him."

She left out a sigh of relief.

Thank the Gods!

"If you hadn't acted on it, of course."

The Gods can fuck right off.

Said gods would have pulled a face, if either of them bloody had one that was.

"I-"

Cinder shrugged. "Let's see how Jaune feels about it, shall we?" She turned and yelled to the other room. "Honey! Did you find the wine? Any will do if you can't find that bottle, but I've got a question for you."

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! Emerald screamed internally.

"Coming!" His voice called as his footsteps echoed down the hall.

Cinder smirked at her as he entered the room, glasses and wine in hand.

"What's up babe?" He asked, concern clear on his face.

She smiled at him. "Oh, nothing life threatening…" A glance at Emerald confirmed that that was untrue. "…It's just that I've found out what's got Em so down."

He perked up. "What's that?"

Cinder gave him a sad look. "She feels unattractive."

NONONONONO!

He scoffed. "That's ridiculous, she's beautiful. I'm sure lots of guys are dying to meet her."

We're both going to die here Jaune.

"Yes we are so please keep your mouth shut if you want to live as well." Jaune was getting tired of explaining that he couldn't control another Jaune's actions.

The woman in red sighed. "That's what I said, but she wasn't convinced. She wanted to know what you think."

"But I just-"

Cinder shook her head. "No baby, like, would YOU date her? Hypothetically, of course."

Emerald's eyes were about to pop out of her head.

IT'SATRAPIT'SATRAPIT'SATRAPIT'SATRAP!

He coloured. "Oh."

"You don't have to answer!" She assured him hurriedly.

Cinder silenced her with a hand. "Nonsense dear, it's just a simple question. This is about you after all. Jaune?"

He coughed. "Well, I uh…" His eyes met the floor.

NO! THE ANSWER IS NO! PLEASE JAUNE PLEASE!

Cinder would take this to her grave but would be very disappointed if Jaune answered in a way she didn't like.

He swallowed and looked at her. "I mean…yeah, if I hadn't met Cindy, and you had asked…I'd probably have been head over heels."

WHHHHHYYYYYYY!?

"Awww, that's so sweet." Cinder crooned at Jaune, before turning her gaze to Emerald. "Now, don't you feel better? Don't you feel more attractive?"

"Amazingly so." She squeaked.

Jaune chuckled as he set the glasses down, pouring wine for them. "Well, now that we've got the awkwardness out of the way, did you want to stay for dinner? I was just about to put something on."

"NO!" She yelped, leaping from her seat, earning a hurt look from the blond. "I mean…You've inspired me! I've got to get back out there! There's plenty of fish in the sea!"

'Yes, leave little miss home-wrecker' Cinder was starting to think something was seriously wrong with her.

Cinder smiled. "That's the spirit, dear."

"Thanks for everything!" She blurted out as she rushed for the door.

"Go get'em Em!" Jaune called after her as the door slammed. He shook his head and turned to his wife. "You know, I wouldn't have guessed how much of a mess she is."

She chuckled. "Yes, she has a talent for putting up facades." She hummed as she stretched in her chair. "Also, I'm hungry."

He smiled at her. "Dinner will be ready in a jiff."

She shook her head, rising from her seat and walking over to him. "But I'm hungry now."

"Either just eat or eat right, all it'll cost is a little patience." Jaune answered.

He laughed. "I can't make it any fast-"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in ear. "But I'm hungry, Jaune."

The theatre glowed red with the blushes from the audience. This time Jaune didn't have an answer for that.

Ruby had a strange feeling in the pit of her gut at the image in front of her, that Jaune was doing filth with Cinder of all people, though the more she thought about it, she realised it wasn't just because it was Cinder, just any woman that wasn't her-!

No! She couldn't think that about her male bestie! Even if she would watch him clean up after train-! No! Bad thoughts!

Pyrrha had that face, ya know the one when their face is covered with a shadow and their eyes glow in the darkness with killing intent strong enough to erase any life before their gaze due to the soul destroying rage that had built up inside them and if unleashed could make Salem quake in fear… that face.

Blake was making scenarios in her mind, her filthy, filthy mind.

"Oh my~" Kali giggled as she remembered doing something similar with her Ghira.

If Raven had any regrets, it was that she couldn't just jump Tai whenever she felt like it.

Willow missed the passion she and Jacques shared after he decided that work was more important than her. That or he just couldn't get it up and used work as an excuse. Damn that limp-dick bastard.

She smirked, enjoying the way he stiffened, and how his arms wrapped around her soon after.

"Then what kind of house husband would I be if I didn't feed you?" He whispered back.

You never get between an animal and what's theirs.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

CHAPTER 3

Cinder Fall was a monster.

Mercury Black knew this. He also knew that she was not a monster that you refused.

He'd learned this lesson years ago, on the side of a darkened road, his father's still warm blood soaking into his clothes. It was a lesson that had been reinforced, time and again, as he watched others make that fatal mistake. He didn't consider himself an overly intelligent man, but he could watch and learn.

All of this is to say, that when Cinder informed them that they'd be attending a monthly 'game night' at the Arc-Fall household, he'd said 'yes ma'am.' He understood how their arrangement worked.

"Game night? What are we? A couple of nerds in some basement?" Emerald complained while Mercury stayed silent, he loved a good game whenever he could. Just wouldn't admit it.

What he was having trouble understanding, was his partner's trepidation upon approaching the door...and her unusual attire.

He shot her a sideways glance. "Em, its July. Why are you wearing a sweater?"

This got chuckles, all knowing the reason why.

"I don't want to talk about it."

His forehead creased. "Did something happen last week?"

"There was nearly a murder so yeah."

"Shut it top heavy."

"Oh? So only you get to show off for the guys?" this got some more laughter while Emerald and Ruby may as well have changed names with how red Emerald was at that moment.

"I. Don't. Want. To. Talk. About. It."

He sighed and knocked on the door. "Whatever."

Seconds later, another thing he didn't understand opened to door.

"Merc! Em! How you doing? Come on in!" Jaune greeted with grin, as he led them into his living room.

"We're doing good bro. It's been too long." He returned with a smile.

Jaune chuckled. "Yeah, but I get that you guys are busy. Cindy says you've got some kind of big job coming up."

"Yeah, it's uh, really going to change things around here."

"How obvious can they be?!" Weiss shook her head as Jaune face palmed again at his others density.

Jaune shook his head. "You guys sure aim high. You still doing breakdancing?"

"Wait what?" Yang started to get a shark like grin.

Mercury rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh, not so much recently. Work, you know?"

Jaune tsked. "Man, you gotta make time for you. Like Em, she took up hiking recently."

He shot a look towards his partner, who was carefully studying the designs in the carpet, before responding.

"Hey bro, when you're right, you're right. I'll work on it. But enough about that boring shit, what are we playing tonight?"

Jaune smirked. "Risk, what else? I swear, Cindy's got a touch of megalomania."

"It's like he knows her so well, but at the same time he doesn't." Blake commented.

Mercury chuckled nervously. "Man, can you imagine?"

The blond laughed with him. "Cindy? Never. You guys get comfortable, I'll go check on the big softy and get the snacks."

"Thanks bro!" Merc called as the Jaune made his way out of the room, before sighing and collapsing on the couch.

Emerald's eyes snapped over to him. "Isn't it weird?" She hissed.

He snorted. "Which part? The part where three of the most proficient killers in Remnant are meeting up to play board games? The part where they're the equivalent of a Beowolf being married to a golden retriever? Or the part where the retriever seems to be the one holding the leash?"

"And once again, this madness has been put into words." Pyrrha finally used her words.

Cinder once again glared at Mercury. "I'm on the leash am I?" any sweat the leaked from the silver assassin was evaporated from the heat Cinder's glare produced.

Emerald opened her mouth, closed it, and shook her head. "Well, all of that, but I meant how normal this has all become."

He shrugged. "Normal is a weird word for any of this, but I don't get why you're so upset. Jaune's cool...for being Jaune." He smirked at her. "Are you mad that mommy brought home a new daddy?" He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Or maybe, you wish he was your daddy?"

His eyes widened as Em's head whipped around the room in a panic.

Laughter erupted once again whilst Emerald glared at Mercury though Cinder didn't know whether to glare at the possible threat or laugh along.

He sat up excitedly. "Oh my Gods, there's a story here!"

She jammed a finger in his face. "Say that shit again, and I'll make you see your daddy in the buff, wherever you go."

He held up his hands in defeat. "Ok, ok, I was just curious!"

"Whatever." She huffed, before raising an eyebrow. "Anyway, breakdancing?"

He sighed. "Jaune caught me training one day. I had to tell him something, and I panicked."

She smirked. "And he believed you?"

He shook his head. "Did more than that. Got super excited and supportive about the whole thing. Signed me up for a competition that Big Daddy Bane was hosting."

"Big Daddy Bane the drug lord?" She asked incredulously.

"How many Big Daddy Banes do you know? And really, you have a hard time believing that Jaune makes weird friends?"

"So let me get this straight, Im friends with a drug lord along with an assassin, a thief and im married to a super powered woman that can literally burn anything in her path. Am I missing anything out?" Jaune hoped that that was the end to that craziness.

"You're forgetting that your wife works for the most dangerous being on the planet." Raven helpfully informed him.

"Wait!" Nora exclaimed, "If Jaune were to accidently find out about these guys." Nora pointed to Salem and the others of WTCH "Would Cinder try to play them off as her mom and the others her brothers?" trust Nora to add to the crazy. Cinder blanched at the thought of doing something so foolish.

"How do they even know each other?"

He shrugged. "I think they're part of the same book club or something. 'Ninjas of Love,' or something like that."

She shook her head. "So how'd you get out of it?"

"I didn't." He answered flatly, causing her jaw to drop. "I had to go! He fucking showed up! He even had a handmade sign that said, 'YOU'RE GONNA GET MERC'D.'"

"Shit that's good." Mercury admitted.

"...That's actually pretty good."

He laughed. "I know, right? I'm totally stealing it! Anyway, you want to know the craziest part? I won." He pointed a thumb at himself proudly. "You're looking at the three-time defending Vale breakdancing king."

She barked a laugh. "You kept going?"

"You know, we actually had a lot of fun, weird as that sounds. Jaune keeps coming out when he can." He shot her a look. "I don't know if you've ever had your own personal hype-man, but I highly recommend it. The dude is just always there for you, super supportive and...Huh." He finished as his eyes widened in realization.

She cocked her head at him. "What?"

"I-I think I just realized that I wish Jaune was my dad."

"Looks like I'm not the only one looking for a daddy." Emerald mocked.

"First off, thanks for admitting you were looking for someone and second, my case is emotional while yours is sexual." Mercury shot back.

She patted his shoulder as she took a seat beside him. "I'm here for you during this confusing time."

"Ok! I'm back, and I've got cookies!" Jaune announced triumphantly, as he returned with tray in hand.

Ruby drooled at the sight of the freshly baked, homemade, heavenly gift before she wished for some, and low and behold a plate of cookies appeared as she graced her taste buds while summer smiled at the scene.

"My man!" Mercury said, as he grabbed one before the tray even had the chance to touch the coffee table.

Emerald sighed. "He means, 'thank you. Jaune.'" She apologized, as she grabbed one of her own

"No problem, Em. How's the dating scene? Catch anything yet?"

She choked on her cookie, going into a coughing fit.

Jaune started patting her on the back. "Em, you ok? You need water?"

Mercury tsked. "She's fine, you just brought up a sore subject. I hear she got rejected recently." He finished with a grin, earning him a glare from the girl as she pounded on her chest.

The blond frowned and shook his head sadly. "Em, I'm not sure who this guy is, but he sounds dense."

"You have no idea." She grumbled.

Mercury smiled at Jaune. "Ignore the sour puss. Regale us with tales of how you wooed the boss."

This caught the attention of the audience, many wanted to know how such an unlikely bond could have happened, was it blackmail? Pity? Lust? Or genuine love?

Despite everything, Salem truly wanted it to be out of genuine live. She herself had a taste of that with her beloved. Yes she hated Ozpin with every fibre of her being and wished to crush whatever he held dear.

But she could never not love Ozma.

Even through the years of her rage, she knew deep down that she wanted to be with him.

Hatred just overpowered love.

But she didn't want that for Cinder, sometimes she saw her dark maiden as another daughter, and if Cinder could find another love other than for power, then Salem would encourage that love.

Just as long as she remembered her place that is.

The blond rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, it's not really much of a story…"

"Pssh, are you kidding? No one has ever come close to bedding the boss lady before you, and you managed to make her settle down, there's got to be a story. Plus, maybe it'll help Em." He added, watching the young man's desire to help break him.

Jaune sighed. "Ok, ok, but only till Cindy gets here. She hates this story."

Jaune Arc was a weak man.

"Well if this is before Beacon then that's true." Jaune conceded.

"But look how far you've come! I don't call you Mr. Muscles for nothing ya know!" Nora cheered. Ren nodded along.

"It is true how much you have progressed, while you do still have a long way, you have covered a great distance."

"Even now I can tell how much you've changed Jaune. Never forget that." Pyrrha held his hand tightly as she grace him with a loving smile.

Jaune gave his team a genuine smile at that. "Thanks guys."

He knew this. He'd failed to make into the school of his dreams. He'd failed to return home and face his family after. He'd failed to find steady work after that.

"So in this one, Vomit boy never got into Beacon?" Yang asked rhetorically.

"But wait! What would that mean for team JNPR!? Would we even be Juniper!? Without Jaune, it would just be NPR! Niper! That name sucks and doesn't even make sense! It's a made up word! MADE UP I TELL YA! Though all words are technically made up." Nora went from curious, to scared realisation, to heart wrenched sorrow, to shaking Jaune by his collar, to erratic and back to curious in a matter of seconds.

"Well I know what they'd be called-"

"Yes Merc' they'd be called Team PRN or porn, everyone could see that."

"Uh actually. I was gonna say team VPR, as in Viper. Get your mind out of the gutter Em, stop thinking about your future daddy~" Emerald would give back everything she had stolen to each individual perso… living person, if it meant she could gut the silver prick.

Jaune Arc was a weak man, it was known far and wide.

It was because he was such a weak man that he couldn't keep on walking when he saw her slumped over in the fetal position on the edge of the street, illuminated by the failing lights of the lamp posts in his rundown neighbourhood.

"Uh, what exactly could make hurt maiden like that?" Jaune asked.

"While yes maidens are powerful, they are not untouchable or invincible, just look how Cinder got her powers." Ozpin explained, though was curious himself.

"And I think she was only at half the maiden's power at that time." Qrow theorised.

He'd never understood how the Vale natives could just keep on walking past someone in need.

"Because it's either a play to get you close and rob or attack you, both usually or none of their business. That's the streets kid, the real world." Roman educated while Neo nodded silently.

Maybe that made him weak, but he was ok with that.

Raven shook her head, the strong survive and the weak die. How could anyone be okay with being weak?

He rushed over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Ma'am, are you-"

He pulled his hand back in shock, finding it slick with blood. A LOT of blood.

He turned her as gently as he could, rolling her on her back, revealing a series of deep cuts trailing down her arms and torso. He panicked, there was no other word for it. He should have called an ambulance, he should have called the police, he should have done something smart. What he did instead, was scoop her up in his arms and sprint towards his apartment, the med kit that he'd prepared for Beacon the only thing on mind.

Glynda sighed. "It's like every day is another reason he shows that he truly belongs at Beacon and you prove me wrong old friend." She whispered to her friend.

Ozpin sipped his coffee before speaking, "Strength and skills are good to have in a war, but to not have compassion or care? Then we'd merely be saving this world from creatures that do not care for their own blood and replacing those with ourselves."

Gods but she was light and frail. What kind of monsters would do this to a defenceless woman?

Cinder hated this, hated seeing herself be weak once again, seeing herself need someone else to help her and hated the fact that it was someone even weaker than her. Though at that point, she was more pathetic than him. She wanted nothing more than to incinerate the image before her.

He bounded up the stairs three at a time, cursing as he fumbled with his keys, while trying not to jostle her too much.

Gods that was a lot of blood.

He dropped the keys and watched as they tumbled down the steps. He winced as his boot crashed into the door, forcing it open. Another thing he'd worry about later, when there was time for anything but her.

"And where the hell was this treatment with me kid?" Qrow gave him a hard, questioning look. "Was it because I didn't have tits? OW!"

"Thank you." Willow said to Summer.

"You're welcome." She beamed back.

He set her down as gently as he could on the couch, before rushing to the closet and digging out his kit. He applied pressure and then the bandages with an ease that he silently thanked his father for drilling into them growing up, removing clothing as needed. Once the dressings were applied, he sighed and looked over her.

"What happened to you?" He whispered, before wiping his hands and pulling out his scroll, quickly dialing 911, letting out a yelp as the device exploded in his hand.

"Piece of shit!" He cursed, shaking the sting out of his hand.

"You know, I've never heard him swear before." Coco said.

"Me neither, and we spend more time with Jauney boy compared to Coco." Yang agreed.

NPR stayed silent as they had a flash back to Jaune playing a game called "Getting over it."

So much rage, so many bad words. So many chairs being throw. Nora couldn't sleep for a week without Ren being beside her. Pyrrha felt like she needed to go to some religious cleansing afterwards.

"...no hospital." He heard a weak voice call out from behind him.

He whipped around, and saw a pair of bleary eyes staring at him. He fell to his knees in front of her.

"Are you ok?! Hey, we need to get you to a hospital, you need medical attention."

She struggled to rise. "T-they'll check the hospitals." She winced and collapsed again. "...not safe." She panted.

He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey, just relax, save you strength! I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you. Just stay right here, I'll get you some water."

He went to the kitchen and filled one of the two glasses he owned with water, before returning to find the girl fast asleep.

He shook his head and placed the glass on the water on the end table before laying out in front of the couch.

Jaune Arc was a weak man, but for tonight at least, he swore to be something more.

He woke with a start, looking around at his flat from his unfamiliar position on the floor. Why was he on the-

His head whipped around to find her, letting out a sigh of relief as he saw her chest rising and falling steadily.

"I don't think her eyes are there Jaune." Yang teased the now blushing boy.

"Pervert." That comment from Cinder didn't help.

He pushed himself up to his knees and leaned over her. He made quick work of checking her bandages, shocked to find just how quickly she seemed to be recovering, before brushing the hair out of her face.

Gods, she's so beautiful-

Cinder tenderly touched her charred face, she was beautiful. Was. Now that was gone.

He felt something sharp press into a VERY sensitive spot.

-And so very, very armed.

"Appropriate response to being in a stranger's home with no recollection." Terra spoke.

"Who are you?" She hissed, as her eyes popped open. "Where am I?"

"Jaune Arc! You're in my apartment! You're safe!" He yelped.

She scowled. "You live in the slums?"

He scoffed. "Hey, it's not that bad! It just needs some love."

"It needs to be burned down. How did I get here?" She asked, as she pressed the knife into his groin again.

He winced. "I brought you here after I found you in the street."

Her eyes shot around the room. "Was there anyone else?"

He shook his head vigorously. "Just you. You're safe, I promise, Arc's word. You kept saying something about Amber. Is she your friend? We can find her. That and maidens." He winced again. "Hey, whatever happened, we can get you help, and it doesn't make you any less of a person."

Her brows knit together in confusion as she seemed to consider the impossibility that was him. "You're a strange man. Not too smart either." She decided finally.

He chuckled. "Ouch, coming from someone bleeding all over my couch, that stings."

She pulled the knife back and looked at the tattered couch beneath her. "You paid for this?"

"Well I-"

"It's hideous. Why didn't you put me on the bed?" Her eyes glanced about the room. "Where is the bed?"

He sighed. "You're on it."

Whitely shuddered at the thought of sleeping on something that wasn't a king sized 300 thread count bed. Urgh! Poor people. (1% problems, am I right?)

She scoffed. "You're poor."

"Financially challenged with room for upward mobility." He corrected.

She snorted. "A LOT of room. What do you do?"

He shrugged. "A bit of this, a bit of that. Handyman, dog walker, part-timer…" He smirked. "...and now a nurse for pretty ladies."

She squinted at him. "Are you...flirting with me?"

"Wow Jaune. Really? Now of all times?" Jaune didn't have a reply so Weiss just went back to the screen.

"Maybe. How's it going?"

"You're very bad at it."

He chuckled. "That's about what I expected. Luckily, I'm better at making breakfast. Now, how do you like your eggs and toast?"

She considered him for a moment, before making some silent decision. "Scrambled and burnt."

He smiled at her. "Coming right up."

"Damn, takes her home, lets her sleep in, she wakes up sore and even makes her breakfast? Not a lot of women are so lucky." Vernal snickered.

Jaune Arc was a weak man, but he didn't feel that way around her.

"Aww weeee." Mercury cooed.

"And that's how he became my knight."

Jaune spun around in the living room, facing a hoodie and sweatpants clad Cinder.

"Still not use to that." Emerald muttered.

"Wishing it was you wearing it?"

"Baby! I was just-"

"That couch WAS hideous by the way."

He tsked. "Didn't scare you off."

She hummed. "Very little scares me dear."

He laughed. "Yeah, very little scares me anymore either, after watching you try to make eggs for the first time."

"Now, now, we all have our talents my knight." Her eyes snapped to Mercury. "It appears one of Mercury's is prying into others affairs. Trying to get a leg up on me, my old friend?"

He swallowed. "Nope, just uh...curious."

"Good, that's good. I'd hate to have to take your legs out from under you...again."

He slowly worked his mouth up and down as she stared him down. "I-"

Jaune grabbed his wife by the waist and pulled her into a crushing hug, earning a yelp from the dark-haired beauty.

"This is just too weird." Mercury said.

"Wishing it was you getting a hug instead?" Emerald mocked back.

"Cindy! We promised no work talk at game night. Besides, everyone knows not mess with the 'big bad business woman.'"

She sighed and smiled up at him. "Of course my knight, you're right." She cast a glance at Mercury. "On both counts I believe."

He almost dislocated something he nodded so fast, before glaring at a snickering Emerald.

"You want to say something?" He hissed.

"Oh nothing, it's just a lot funnier from the outside."

"Emerald, dear." Cinder purred, causing he dark-skinned girl sit ramrod straight. "I love the sweater, it's very becoming on you."

"T-thank you!" The green-haired girl stammered.

Jaune tilted his head to the side. "Em, it's July. If you're hot, we can find you something that breathes a bit more."

"See? He wants you out of those clothes. You still have a chance." the two continued this tennis match of mockery.

"No! I mean, I'm not hot, definitely not! Everyone is breathing just fine, don't do anything!"

"She's still high strung." Jaune whispered to his wife.

She placed a hand on his cheek. "It's just who she is baby. Can you grab the wine? I forgot it."

He nodded. "Sure thing, be right back."

She waited till his footsteps faded before returning to the two of them. "Emerald, set up the game, I'm Mistral. Mercury, report."

He coughed and stood. "We've taken care of the rat, looks like a one off."

"Who was he talking to?"

"Dead men."

"Cute, that's not what I asked."

He shifted nervously. "Well we're still-"

She shifted her glance to his partner. "Emerald?"

She shot up, sending game pieces flying. "We're using Roman's contacts to find them."

"And if he's part of the problem?" The dark-haired woman growled.

"Who's part of the problem?" Three sets of eyes snapped over to the wine-bearing blond. "Are we talking about work again?"

Cinder tittered. "I'm sorry my knight, I couldn't help it. One of our new contractors is being...vexing."

"Oh, is it Sadam again?" He asked.

"No, this one is called...Broman."

""Broman"…" Roman slowly looked towards his former leash handler. "Fucking "Broman"?"

'Someone isn't original.' Neo lifted her sign.

"Broman? That's a weird name."

"Don't worry about it." Three voices chorused.

He shook his head and laughed as he opened the bottle and filled their glasses. "You guys are right, let's get to the game. Anyone claim Vale yet?"

"Not yet dear, not yet." Cinder promised darkly.

Jaune just couldn't be bothered to point out how obvious it was anymore.

"All yours bro." Mercury hurriedly assured him.

Mercury was losing, and if there was one thing he hated...well, other than his father, the police, Huntsmen, Emerald making him see shit, the colour fushica, mimes...ok, so he hated a lot of shit, losing being among them.

Sun turned to the guy in question. "Mimes?"

"Fucking mimes. Always doing weird shit. Huh? You're trapped in a box huh? Doesn't stop me from kicking the shit outta ya!" Mercury got lost in his thoughts.

I think he needs therapy.

Cinder was steadily eating into his Atlesian and Emerald's Vacuan forces, leaving Jaune's forces in Vale in peace. The irony was not lost on him.

They had to do something if they wanted to turn the tide. He looked to his partner, who gave him a silent nod. The agreement was made, a non-aggression pact until the more dangerous foe was removed. Just like always.

Cinder raised her brow at the two who refused to look back at her.

He made his decision.

"I'm going to attack Kuchinashi in Mistral." He announced.

"You won't." Cinder responded flatly.

"But I-"

Her eyes bore into his. "You won't, because you understand that such an action would be suicide. You'd be forgetting your place in the order of things Mercury, and I'd have to teach you it again." She leaned across the table. "And I'm a harsh teacher Mercury. I will start by teaching your tin soldiers the meaning of words such as 'fear' and 'desperation.' Then, once I find my way to your capital, and I will, I'll start teaching new lessons. Your citizens will know the meaning of 'pain' and 'hopelessness,' your children will learn the meaning of 'want' and 'hunger.' I would say that they'll tell stories of your fallen civilization as a warning to others in the future, but that would require me leaving enough for anyone to remember you at all.'" She finished the last of her wine. "So, Mercury, what is it that you want to do?"

The audience collectively turned to Cinder.

"…What?" She asked with a frown.

Salem was so proud of Cinder at that point.

He screamed silently for a moment, before his blond messiah saved him.

"Ooooookaaaayyy baby." Jaune drawled as he poured a healthy dose of wine into her empty glass. "I think you need a little bit more happy juice and a chill pill."

Ghira and Taiyang nodded. "Happy wife, happy life." They then looked at each other and nodded in respect.

"See, you already like one blond, why not be kind to another." Kali encouraged her husband.

"The other isn't a husband nor father." He stubbornly crossed his arms.

Kali smirked before wrapping her arms around his massive bicep and whispered. "Well, not yet." She giggled when she felt him tense up.

Sun suddenly fear for his live and reproductive system.

Blake suddenly wanted to scold her mother but didn't know why.

She blinked, as if waking from a spell. "Did I do the thing again?"

Jaune laughed. "I think Merc might have soiled himself."

He scoffed. Of course not...most likely not.

Cinder turned to the silver-haired man again. "Sorry Mercury. Did you decide what you're going to do?"

He made a new decision.

"I'm attacking Em!" He answered quickly, his voice shaking a bit more than he'd like.

"Asshole!"

"Good choice."

The next few turns devolved into a vicious civil war between him and Em. One in which he was sure she used her Semblance more than once, she could be vindictive like that. He sighed, and surveyed the board. He was getting desperate, and in his desperation, he risked it all.

"Jaune, can you be a bro and help a guy down on his luck?"

The blond chuckled. "And go against the missus? No thanks. Besides, I'm going to win here in a minute."

This caused a pause. "Hol' up." Emerald started.

"Wayment." Mercury continued

"Excuse me?" Cinder finished.

That caught Cinder's attention. She NEVER lost. "What was that dear?"

He shrugged and gestured to the board. "It wasn't too hard, I just had to pay attention to everyone's normal patterns." He nodded towards them. "Em and Merc fight like they normally do, so I didn't have to worry about them, and you're always ready to take advantage of their confusion and disunity."

That was shockingly accurate.

"So, I just had to build up troops in Menagerie, that'll cut you off as you engage the two of them." He finished with a laugh.

The dark-haired woman scanned over the board, eyes widening in realization. She turned back to her husband, putting on her best scandalized look.

"My knight, you'd rout me from behind?"

Everyone suddenly needed a drink, so, as one, they began to drink some conveniently placed water bottles (or Coffee for Ozpin.)

The blond smirked and took a sip of his wine. "Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time."

*SPURT!*

*SPIT!*

*GAG!*

*COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!*

Was the collective sounds of the theatre as water rained down and minds grinded to a halt.

He'd been wrong. THAT was Cinder's best scandalized look.

"JAUNE ARC!" She roared, sending the man into a laughing fit.

Holy shit, she was blushing. He was pretty sure he could die happy now. He turned to Em, to find her jaw on the floor. It was too much, he broke down laughing.

Once it had calmed down, Roman, Neo, Vernal, Qrow, Mercury, Sun, Neptune, Tyrian, Watts, Taiyang, Yang, Port, Marrow, Elm and Harriet began to laugh like there was no tomorrow.

Others either collected themselves or were still a blushing mess. Saphron kept her head buried at her wife's chest, hoping to drown out the sight and sound of her brother's innocence dying out by that scarlet woman.

"You go Jaune!" Yang cheered her fellow blond.

"Such *Cough.* such lewd behaviour." Weiss croaked out.

Cinder was seething at this point, not at the laughing… okay that played a huge part but at the notion that any man would be the dominant one, let alone Arc! She was a woman who was always in control, always on top.

Con' read her thoughts and laughed silently, imagining how Cinder would react if she ever discovered AO3 and searched "Knightfall" or "ArcFall".

"Hell yeah Jaune! Now help me out, bros before-"

Amber eyes snapped back to him, silencing him.

Those laughing before immediately clamped up at what could be described as an Omen of death.

Some would describe it as if the dead rose from beyond the grave to lay claim on the living.

Others would call it Mercury's greatest Fuck up.

And Mercury? Well he was more fucked than a man who was riding a see-saw after attaching a foot long dildo to its seat.

"What was that, Mercury?" She whispered dangerously.

"I-I, uh…" He looked Em for help, only to find her quickly scooting away from what she assumed would shortly become the 'splash zone.'

"Mercury." Cinder hissed. "Finish the sentence."

He could swear he could already feel the heat coming from across the table.

"What?" He tried weakly.

"The sentence, Mercury. Bros before what?"

Of all the ways he'd thought he'd go, he could safely say that he didn't expect it to be over a board game. Gods but it was getting hot. He could almost see the flickering flames-

"Holy shit!" Jaune cried out. "The game's on fire!"

His blond messiah. He jumped to help the man bat the flames out, carefully avoiding Cinder's gaze.

"Oh thank you Gods."

"And who said you were safe from ME Mercury?"

"Oh Fuck you Gods."

"It's monopoly all over again." Jaune muttered. "How does this keep happening?"

His dumb, incredibly dense, blond savior.

They'd said their goodbyes shortly after that, with Jaune apologizing for the panic, and assuring them that it has probably for the best anyway.

"Cindy seems like she needs a minute to cool off. See you guys next month right? She might not show it, but Cindy loves these things. I think it's an outlet for her aggression or something."

"Yeah, sure bro. Wouldn't miss it."

Cinder Fall was a monster, Mercury Black knew this. He also knew she wasn't one you refused, and he was pretty sure that that extended to her husband as well.

He sighed with relief as Jaune closed the door. Made it out alive.

"You're so fucking dumb." His partner offered helpfully.

"Shut the hell up Em."

"Oh, don't care about a 'hoe's' opinion?"

And so they walked back down the street, bickering the whole way, completely oblivious to the pair of pink and brown eyes watching them leave the monster's house.

Cinder gained a dark look as she turned to Roman. "And just what is your personal call girl doing near my home?" she demanded.

"Hey whoa, who says I have anything to do with this?" He raised his hands in peace while his face was plastered with a shit eating grin.

"Because you control her." She gritted out.

"One, I don't control her, she does what she likes. I just manage to make hurting my enemies something she likes to do. Second, why so defensive? You afraid for blondie or something?" he smirked

Cinder was interrupted as the projection started up again, but not before casting a glare at the ginger criminal.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

CHAPTER 4

Cinder Fall was a monster.

Roman Torchwick knew this.

"Ah finally, my time to shine." Roman soaked in the spotlight while Neo playfully clapped for him.

He also knew that, as his mother so eloquently put it back in the day, she was not a woman to be fucked with. He knew this from first-hand experience, watching as a few of his men went up in literal flames after he told them to, 'get this bitch out of my way,' during their first meeting.

Cinder smirked as she remembered he fear in everyone's eyes after they witnessed the burning of flesh and the screams of agony.

Better words could have been chosen. He could swear he could still smell them at times.

After that, they'd begun a mutually beneficial partnership, which is what his pride allowed him to call being allowed to live, so long as he carried out her every whim.

But things were about to change! Now, thanks to the little minx that was Neo, he knew one of his 'partner's' secrets, and as the former owner of one of Vale's oldest and most valuable manuscripts collections once told him, 'knowledge is power.' He'd made the counterargument that guns were power, and the owner had chosen to concede the debate.

"I don't know if I should be shocked by this level of foolishness or smack myself for thinking you wouldn't be dumb enough to try such a thing." Cinder seethed with a calm face.

He watched as the secret strolled casually along the street, not a care in the world. He looked down to his long-time partner.

"That him Neo?"

He received a happy bob of the head in return.

Well, time to do some old fashion investigation. "If you would be so kind my lady."

Neo tittered silently, as she wrapped them in a cloak of illusion, making them invisible to all those around them. A fun side effect he had discovered to this particular trick was the looks on people's faces when a ghost seemingly shoved them and told them to fuck off. It really was about the little joys in life.

They tailed the guy for around an hour, and as they did, something became disturbingly clear. The guy was connected.

"Connected? As in shady wise connected?" Blake questioned.

Not the kind of connected like people who thought they were a big deal were, where a club owner or two knew your name, but truly, street level connected. The damn blond couldn't seem to take more than three steps before someone called out or ran up to him, offering him samples of food, flowers, or beer, and he knew them all by name.

"Oh so thug like connected then." Terra concluded.

"You never know. Maybe they're just nice." Saphron chimed in.

Fuck. This guy was connected AND liked. Roman's mind raced, trying to figure out if he recognized him from somewhere. How would someone be operating in HIS city, and at such a deep level, without him knowing his name? It left a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. One that got worse when he saw who the man stopped to talk to next.

Big Daddy Bane was so named because he was fucking big. The man must have been at least 6'5", if not taller, and was a veritable wall of muscle.

"Eh. Hazel could kick his ass still." Mercury shrugged.

He WAS East side drug trade, and had the firepower to keep it that way. He was always dressed in the tackiest white suit Roman had ever seen, there was an art to suits after all, but he dared someone to say it to his face. Nobody that wanted to stay breathing very long ran their mouth to Big Daddy. But now? The man looked positively nervous.

"So Jaune can make a towering man of muscle and drug lord nervous. I feel like our other versions should be taking the blond along with us when we need to… convince people to cooperate." Merc' smirked.

"Oh yeah and have the wannabe hero run away the second he realises his wife and friends aren't nice people and are murderers instead." Emerald deadpanned at the assassin.

Who the hell is this guy!?

"Hey Bane! How's it going?" The blond greeted cheerily.

Roman took note of that, no 'Big Daddy,' no title. He had the power in this relationship.

"He just said hello." Sun shrugged.

Despite his sheltered life, Whitely knew the power titles held and to address others by name without said titles, showed either a powerful alliance or disrespect. He could somewhat see why the thug was concerned.

The giant shuffled nervously, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "Fine, just fine Jaune. How are you?"

Jaune. So, that's his name, huh?

The blond nodded. "Doing good!" He leaned in and grinned at the larger man. "How's the book? You all caught up?"

His eyes widened. This guy was shaking down Bane!

"Im asking him a question." Jaune gave Roman a 'are you serious?' look.

"Exactly! You're asking a drug lord questions! Most would tell you to shut the fuck up or just cap you for even talking to him." Roman gestured to the screen.

Bane's shoulders slumped as he stared at the ground. "No." He sighed.

Jaune tsked. "This is the second week in a row!"

"I know, I know, I just need a little bit more time!" The mountain of a man begged.

This was bad, real bad. Big Daddy controlled a significant amount of the city's less-than-legal gambling operations in addition to the drug trade. If this guy not only had access to his books, but was able to take money from the man, he was a force to be reckoned with. Roman leaned in, anxious to see how the newcomer handled failure.

The young man laughed. "Hey, don't worry about it! I know you'll get all caught up before next week. I trust you."

Roman felt a chill run down his spine. Of all the reactions that he'd expected, that definitely wasn't one of them. To be so forgiving, to have the power to be so forgiving, was a powerful message. It meant that the money didn't matter to him, it was just a token of submission, and he could continue operations...with or without Big Daddy. And that last line? 'I trust you.' That spoke volumes. He wasn't worried about Bane going anywhere, because there was nowhere to run.

"What the fu-! Nah, im done asking questions." Jaune slumped in his seat.

The giant let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks for understanding."

"Of course. You have any more tournaments coming up? I'm trying to get Merc back out there."

Dammit! He was into the underground fight circuit too? How vast was this asshole's reach!?

"More dancing really, but from my other has told me, I still kick ass!" Mercury boasted while others shook their heads.

He growled as he motioned for Neo to follow him back down the street into an alley. He had one more source he wanted to check before he unleashed the big guns. He pulled out his scroll and hurriedly dialed the familiar number, tapping his foot impatiently as it rang. A man with dark hair and a beard answered the phone a few moments later.

"Hey, it's the guy from that club I traaaaa…" Yang cut herself off as she remembered just who was a couple seats away.

Taiyang caught on though. "Yang." He drew out the name, "What did you do?"

"Nothing." She avoided I contact.

"Yang. What did you do?"

"Nothiiiiing-Ah!" she said it like a bratty teen.

"Yang! What did you do!?"

"I trashed his club okay!?" she finally caved in.

"…." Tai was silent as Yang cringed at the stare he gave her. He opened his mouth as she ducked her head down, preparing for the embarrassing scolding that was to come.

"… now don't you feel better?" he smiled as he made her admit her past deeds.

"Wait what?"

"Is that it?!" Summer exclaimed at the lack of punishment.

"Im off the hook?" Yang felt hope bubbling inside her.

"Oh hell no, I just haven't had enough time to properly express my rage and make up a proper punishment." Tai replied with a smile as Yang slumped down and Summer smiled in relief.

"What do you want Roman?"

He tsked. "Hey to you too Junior. I need information on a Jaune."

"Roman, you know we have a policy against kissing and telling."

He rolled his eyes. "Not that kind of John you idiot, a guy named Jaune. Tall, young, blond hair."

The man hummed. "Yeah, I know him."

"And?"

"What's it worth to you?"

He groaned. "What do you want?"

"The city cops are starting to sniff around again…"

"I'll take care of it. Jaune. Now."

He large man sighed. "Not much to tell honestly. He's a good guy, friends with the girls. Did freelance work taking care of some leaks and rats for us a while back."

Shit, the guy had gotten his hands dirty? That made him even more dangerous.

"He means actual rats and water leaks doesn't he?" Roman dropped his face into his hands while Neo patted him on the back in comfort.

'Oh, so now he's using those slutty twins to keep him company.' Cinder couldn't help the feeling of jealously of her husband being around other women, those harlots should stay away from what was hers.

"How long ago, and for how long?"

Junior stroked his chin. "Over a year ago for sure. He wasn't at it for too long, maybe six months to a year?"

Damn it! Who rose through the ranks that fast? Soldier to don in a few years? This was bad, real bad.

"Why are you asking after Jaune anyway? He's a friend of the-."

Shit.

"Thanks Junior." He cut the man off as he hung up the phone.

Who didn't this Jaune have in his pocket? He turned to the one reliable source of info he had.

"Neo, you're sure you saw this guy at the house that Cinder was at?"

She nodded.

"And the two brats left before he did?"

She signed at him.

"What do you mean 'he didn't leave'? What was he doing there?"

She shrugged, tapped her finger on her chin in thought and then lit up.

"Got something?"

She nodded excitedly, then made a circle with her index finger and thumb on one hand, and began thrusting the index finger of her other hand through vigorously.

Many blushed at the lewd sign language the mute displayed so casually.

He rolled his eyes. "If he's banging the fire bitch, then I'll eat my damn hat."

"Would you like your hat rare or cooked Roman?" Cinder mocked.

"Oh, you gonna make me eat my hat 'cause he's actually banging you?" he sneered.

"Oh no, im making you eat that hat for the 'fire bitch' comment." She smiled evilly. "Though ill make you eat it again for that assessment, after you either ingested it or crapped it out." She promised. "Your choice."

She grinned evilly at that.

"Find that shit funny do you? Well, why don't you go find out for us? There's an ice cream sundae in it for you if you find anything good."

Her eyes widened in delight, before she shot him a thumbs up, and seemingly blinked out of existence.

Well mystery man, let's see if you can handle Neo.

Neo was a Monster.

She knew this. She'd certainly been told it enough. Usually by someone whose eyes were wide with fear and screaming at the top of their lungs. Fond of labels, were the soon to be deceased. In truth though, she'd suspected it sometime much earlier on in her life. There'd been other monsters back then, ones that decided to prey on her. She'd decided she didn't like that, not at all. Several corpses later, she'd established a mental hierarchy of sorts. There were monsters, and then there were Monsters.

And Neo? She was a Monster.

However, she was a Monster that enjoyed being entertained. Roman was entertaining, and one of the few people that weren't openly terrified of her. So, she'd adopted him.

"Wait. You adopted me?" Roman asked the mute who nodded before she texted him.

'What? Did you really think you adopted me?' she smiled at him.

Roman looked at her for a second before nodding. "Fair play."

She was pretty sure he thought it was the other way around, but he could get confused like that. They had a well-defined relationship, he provided the entertainment, and she fought off all the would-be monsters. It had worked out perfectly so far.

Which is why it was so frustrating when Fire Bitch had sashayed her way into their lives.

Fire Bitch was a Monster, one that she begrudgingly admitted was deserving of a big-ass "M," and it made Neo nervous. She HATED being nervous.

So now, with the chance to strike back at the woman in sight? Neo was ecstatic. All she had to do was pump this guy for information. And if there was one thing that she was good at, it was pumping...wait, nope. She was good at getting people to talk...ironically.

She found him chatting up a balding old man, selling cabbages of all things, at a street stall. She was far more interesting than cabbages in her not-so-humble opinion, so this should be easy. Just waltz up, flash a smile, maybe flash a little more, get Blondie to start talking. Easy peas-

"Oh Gods, it's you!"

Or, the cabbage-man could recognize her, that could happen too. Did they really shake this guy down recently? Times really were lean around here. She mentally shrugged. Oh well, time for option 2 - intimidation.

Oh yeah, Neo liked option 2 very much. Time to make this blond piss his pants like many have before him.

Blondie looked back and forth between her and the cabbage-man, clearly confused.

"Friend of yours?" He asked the cabbage-man.

That was her cue. She gracefully hopped up onto the counter of the stall and leered at the owner, a wicked smile on her lips.

Yes cabbage-man, tell him who I am.

The man was sweating bullets, eyes frantically searching for an exit from the situation. He licked his lips nervously.

"I-I uh…" He trailed off as she leaned in, her smile widening.

Then something happened that caught her off guard. Blondie laughed. Not a fake laugh, a nervous laugh, but a full on, belly laugh.

Neo was stunted at that, this… wasn't supposed to go down like this.

"So, this is the competition, huh? I'd worried if I were you Thomas, she seems feisty, and no offense, but she's a lot better looking than you."

The cabbage-man stared at Blondie with eyes wide with fear, but the man's grin held. He wasn't intimidated in the slightest. This man wasn't afraid of monsters, or at least pretended not to be...that made him interesting.

Blondie turned his gaze to her, chuckling as he held out a hand. "Name's Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue, ladies love it."

She stared at his hand in shock for a minute, before signing at him sarcastically.

'Do they though?'

'Sorry, force of habit.'

Neo blinked suddenly at the unexpected response, she turned to the Jaune of her world and signed.

'You can speak in signs?' she gestured.

He smiled before responding in kind. 'Yep, a neat trick when you come across someone who needs it and for silently talking behind my mom's back, oh and for stealth missions.'

'Oh, you are interesting. Keep this up and I'll…' she then followed along with several more gestures and a wink.

While others didn't know what was said, they can tell it must have been saucy from the red hue Jaune suddenly emitted as he stayed silent.

Sun however had a serious question for Neptune, "If someone with a missing limb uses sign language, is that an accent or a speech impediment?"

Her eyes widened as his hands moved through the signs. He caught her surprise and laughed.

"Something me and my sisters used to do for fun. Comes in handy." He winked at her as threw out the pun.

Ok, scratch that, Blondie had just moved up from interesting to entertaining. That was rare air.

She clapped her hands together in excitement. Back to option 1 it was!

She hopped off the counter of the stand and leaned into him, smirking in appreciation at his boldness, as she entered what people kept telling her was considered their 'personal space.' It didn't make much sense to her, she always found it much easier to get personal once you were inside that space.

He chuckled as her looked down at her. "Like that one? You'd be one of the first."

Oh, she intended to be. Gods he was tall. That's ok, the height difference tended to matter less when you weren't vertical anymore.

"Okay im not liking where this is going." Saphron said.

Neo caught her eye before she signed to the other Arc. Might as well see if this one could also "speak" her language. 'Oh don't worry, I'll take good care of him, I'll get him a leash with his name on it and everything as long as he is a good boy.' She finished.

Terra had to hold her wife back from assaulting the mute who silently chuckled.

"Cindy hates puns. Or at least she says she does." He leaned a bit closer and whispered conspiratorially. "I think she's secretly a fan."

Cindy? That reminded her of something. Was she supposed to be doing something? Probably wasn't important. What was important, was that he was talking about another girl. She threw him a pout to show him what she thought about that.

He laughed again. "Wow, now you really remind me of her."

Playing hard to get, huh? Well, she could take care of that. She wrapped them in her Semblance as she reached for the top button of her blouse. Time for a very public, private show.

Cinder was prepared to treat Neo like the ice-cream midget she was and melt her. For even daring to touch what was hers!

Though she couldn't deny that Neo was indeed attractive, this was an opportunity to see how far a man's loyalty stretched. She didn't have much hope though. Why should she? Men were animals, seeking out the best or easiest woman to claim/conquer before they find some fresh flesh to pleasure themselves with. Men were just like that.

Neo smirked at the screen, so what if she was also showing off to an audience. She had a body worth showing off, why hide it and not use it when it suited her?

She was gonna have that blond cutie wrapped around her finger in mere seconds.

She wasn't sure what surprised her most out of what happened next. It might be the speed at which his hand shot out and caught her wrist, it might be how gentle but firm his grip was, it very well could have been the genuine apology in his eyes when he spoke.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" He shook his head and held up his left hand, ring proudly in place. "I'm married."

Both Cinder and Neo were certainly surprised by Jaune's actions.

Cinder didn't know how to act. After all wasn't this an opportunity for her husband to indulge in something new without his wife knowing? Did he fear that Cinder would find out? Did he think Neo wasn't worth it? That she wasn't good enough?

'Or.' A strange voice sounded off from the back of her head, 'He truly loves you and the reason you see men as animals is because you've never met someone like Arc and was never shown true loyalty?' Cinder didn't know whether to ignore the voice or actually listen to it.

But, what she was almost certain surprised her most, was the viper that suddenly appeared at the end of the man's wrist and struck out at her, sending her flying back onto her rear. She reached for her blade, but the viper had been replaced by a familiar face. A very annoying familiar face.

Crop-top stood beside Blondie, looking down at her and trying to be intimidating. As if, Crop-top has a little "m" monster for sure. A clam-jamming little "m" monster at that.

"Are you ok, Jaune?" She asked.

He looked confused. "Yeah, of course Em." His eyes shot back to her. "Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?"

Her eyes flicked better the two, and suddenly the pieces fell into place. The ring, Crop-top, Cindy. Her eyes widened. He really wasn't afraid of Monsters.

"No, he just hasn't seen the monsters yet." Jaune muttered to himself darkly. Cinder managed to hear it though and for some reason, that gave off a strange feeling in her chest.

She needed to consult Salem immediately after this! There had to be something wrong with herself, Cinder was never like this.

She made herself cold and ruthless, never to be shackled by such fragile and worthless emotions, to live by her strength alone, to take power whenever she could. If whoever held that power before could not stop Cinder from taking it, then they never deserved to have it in the first place.

She was a Monster and she prided herself in being able to have such a title.

But why did the notion feel… bad to have?

He was VERY entertaining.

Blondie offered her a hand up, which she accepted. "Sorry about that Neo, this is Em-"

"We know each other." Crop-top cut him off.

He tilted his head. "Hiking buddies?"

Hiking buddies?

Crop-top snorted. "No, Neo's more of a mime enthusiast."

Oh this bitch.

He hummed. "I guess I can see it." He snapped his fingers in excitement. "Hey, I've got an idea! Neo's single too, and looking to meet some guys. You two should go clubbing together, make new friends."

"He is between two deadly assassins and is trying to make nice with them? It's like watching someone try to tame a couple of Beowolves." Harriet snorted.

Trying to make alliances, huh? That was Roman's thing, she wouldn't be caught dead with Crop-top.

The tanned girl frowned in agreement. "I don't think we'd get along. Neo always likes putting on more of a show than I do."

Suddenly Neo's image was blurred, from the neck down as if it were being censored.

"What the? What's with the screen?" Sun asked. Not knowing why it was acting up.

"I think it's broken." Nora guessed.

Emerald suddenly chuckled as she knew what was wrong.

"Something to add Em?" Mercury asked.

"Well if I know me, then I know what I've done and the reason the midget is being censored."

And with that, Neo was naked. Well, she wasn't really, but that's what Crop-top wanted her to see.

"Ah." Mercury understood.

"Aw, we're missing the show." Neptune then felt something collide with the back of his head, making him bite his tongue. He turned to see Neo with another bowl of ice cream in hand and held it threateningly, Weiss also had her weapon back in hand somehow and was spinning the chamber of her weapon while she gave him a cold look. The entire female audience glaring at the blue haired ladies' man in disgust.

He meekly turned back to the screen after managing to not wet himself from the wave of death that rammed into him like a tidal wave.

Many of the women gave Neo appreciative and respectful nods and smiles who blew a kiss back. Hey she may not care if people saw what she had to offer but that was only when she decided to put on a show.

Oh this very dead bitch. She wanted to play rough? Ok then, she'd give her a show. She cloaked the two of them in her Semblance, hiding them from the rest of the world, and cracked her knuckles.

Jaune stared between the still image of the two girls staring each other down and tsked. "Em, be nice."

"I'll be nice Jaune, I promise." Crop-top said slowly, trying to keep up a strong front as Neo approached. "Can you go find Merc? He's back down the way I came, looking for you."

The blond sighed as he started back down the street. "Fine, just make sure everyone stays in one piece."

No promises Blondie.

Roman watched as the blond haired man peeled off from the two girls, hearing his last minute instructions to keep the battle contained. As much as he hated to admit it, the guy was smart. He knew he couldn't keep two wild cards like Neo and Emerald contained, so he'd let them have their spat, so long as it didn't disrupt business.

It was exactly what he would have done.

He growled as he watched the man walk back down towards the direction of Cinder's other, silver haired dog. He was tired of being a spectator. He was tired of listening to how much everyone liked this guy on the street. Of how he was making moves on HIS territory. It was time for a face to face.

"Hey Jaune!" He called out, causing the blond to whip around with a confused look on his face. Good, he was off balance.

The blond squinted. "Do I know you?"

Roman grit his teeth. This blond bastard, pretending that he didn't know exactly who he was talking to!

"While I understand that Mr Arc doesn't exactly know of others shady history, why is it he can't identify a well-known and heavily wanted criminal?" Ironwood shook his head.

He reeled himself in. He had to play this cool. He laughed and held out a hand as he approached. "Maybe not. I'm Roman Torchwick, and this is MY Street." AND my city.

The blond considered him for a moment. "Are you sure?" He pointed down the way. "That corner belongs to Bane." His finger shifted. "That stall to Thomas." Again the finger moved. "That-"

"Is he really this literate or is he purposely pissing him off?" Coco asked though she should really know at this point.

"Yes, I suppose that's technically true." This bastard wanted to play hardball, huh? "But, I'm something of an entrepreneur around here. Most of these businesses work through me...if they want to remain profitable." Time to play his card. "I believe we have a mutual acquaintance by the way, one with a fiery temper."

He watched as the blond's eyes widened in realization that his secret was out, that he'd been-

"Finally the dumbass knows that he is talking to the man, the myth, the Legend! Ro-

"Broman!" The man cried out excitedly. "That's who you are!"

"FUCK A DUCK!" Roman shouted in annoyance and outrage.

What?

"What?"

The blond laughed. "Oh, sorry about that, Cindy's told me about you, but I've never seen a picture."

"I, uh-"

Jaune clapped the man on the shoulder. "Sorry about Cindy, she can be a handful."

He had so many questions. Broman? Cindy? Was this guy touching him?

The blond leaned in with a smile. "But just between me and you, I hear you've been giving her trouble too. Do her husband a favor and try to get along, huh? You know...be a bro."

"Oh this mother-!"

He seethed. This son of a bitch thought he could big-time him on his own street?

His grip tightened on his cane. He'd show him how Roman Torchwick had risen through the ranks. Then it hit him-

Her husband?

His eyes widened. This guy was married to the fire bitch? More than that, if he'd never even met the guy, did that make him the power behind the throne?

His eyes shifted from the blond's easy smile to look around the street. There were people staring at them. There were people staring at them with fear in their eyes. Roman felt a chill run down his spine as the man squeezed his shoulder.

"Can you do that for me, Broman?"

He swallowed. "I-"

"Why am I nervous?!"

"Jaune?" The man shifted his attention to the silver haired newcomer approaching them.

"Merc! How's it going man? I was just talking to our friend Broman!"

The mercenary's eyes darted between the two. "...Yeah, Broman."

Roman's heart sank as it all became clear. He hadn't wanted this conversation - Jaune had. It's why he'd had Emerald pair off with Neo. It's why he'd walked down the street in broad daylight, just asking for him to make his move. He'd had Mercury waiting in the wings the whole time. Now he was outnumbered on a street that may or may not be his anymore.

Roman started to silently cry into his hands. "No… he's just a fucking idiot." He pathetically sobbed.

Fuck.

He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding as Neo joined them, popping into existence. His eyes flicked up to the blond. The bastard didn't even have the decency to look surprised.

"Oh hey Neo! Didn't see you come up. You and Em sort things out?"

His partner gave the man a happy nod.

Jaune smiled. "Good. I'm glad we can all be friends."

Roman glanced to the side as Emerald shuffled up to them, an obvious hitch in her step.

"You ok Em?" The blond asked.

Did nothing shake this guy?

"Yeah." She huffed. "Must've pulled something hiking."

Hiking?

He didn't have time to think about it, as the two warriors took their places at Jaune's side, leaning into him, making sure that he understood what would happen with a word from the blond.

"No you god damn moron. He's just too dense to understand what's going on."

He shuffled nervously. He didn't want this fight, not now at least. There were just too many unanswered questions. Thankfully, Mercury saved him.

"Jaune, I think we need to go bro. Cinder wanted to talk to you."

The man nodded to his lieutenant, before turning back to Roman.

"Sorry we didn't get more of a chance to talk, but you know how it is. Can't keep a pretty lady waiting." Jaune finished with a wink.

A wink. He fucking winked at him.

He nodded back slowly. "Yeah...we'll catch up some other time."

The blond smiled warmly, too warmly. "I look forward to it. And please, remember what I said."

Roman tried to keep his knees from shaking till the man had turned and started down the street.

Neo was watching a much different scene play out.

She'd rushed back to Roman as soon as she'd finished teaching Crop-top all about the differences between big "M's" and little "m's." She'd found him cornered by Blondie and Stilts, looking shook.

She thought she could understand, Blondie wasn't an everyday kinda guy. He was dangerous.

"No, he's not. It's the equivalent of a happy golden retriever being surrounded by blood thirsty wolves and thinking the retriever is the most dangerous because it isn't dead yet by said wolves." Roman needed something strong to drink right now. Thankfully a bottle of whiskey popped by his arm rest to which he snatched up and chugged.

At least, that's was she'd thought before she'd seen the way that Crop-top and Stilts closed in on him. To Roman, she'd imagined it looked like they were closing ranks. But to her, someone who read body language as a way of life? She saw something else. They were afraid for him. They were protecting him.

None of it made any sense. Was Blondie not afraid of Monsters, or did he not even see them?

She started laughing as they walked away, she couldn't help it, Blondie was just too entertaining.

Roman shot her a worried look, and she smiled up at him. Sure, she could tell him, but…

What would be the fun in that?

"God fucking damn it Neo." All he got was silent laughter from his partner.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

CHAPTER 5

Cinder Fall was a Monster.

She knew this. But sometimes, she liked to forget.

Her current situation made that somewhat difficult. She 'sat' at an illusionary table, projected by some strange new Grimm, surrounded by Salem's other lieutenants, tapping her foot impatiently. She had places to be. She was going to be late...again.

Ozpin straightened in his seat before realising this was before the fall of Beacon, so there may not be much information to take from this, though he kept an ear out in-case Salem indulged her plans she had after Beacon falls.

"Are we boring you Cinder?" Watts drawled from across the table...the smug bastard.

"Only you Watts." She shot back.

He hummed. "Perhaps you have better things to do? Like fail to obtain a Maiden's powers?"

"I forgot you were so accomplished in that regard. Honestly, I forget most of your accomplishments...it's almost like there's a distinct lack of them."

"Oooohhh, sick burn!" Tyrian grinned from across the table, before erupting in laughter at his own pun.

Yang didn't like it when people she didn't like indulged in one of her favourite past times, pun making, so she gave an appropriate response. "…Kill him!" she yelled.

Gods I hate puns. Jaune was the only exception to this rule. Jaune was the only exception to several rules.

"Like being on top. AHEM!" Mercury whispered between several coughs.

Watts scoffed. "At least I'm not behind schedule."

She raised an eyebrow. "Good for you. I suppose that makes two of us then."

He balked. "But, I thought-"

"Best to leave the thinking to others dear, you know it got you kicked out of Atlas."

"Daaaaaamn!" Sun and Neptune leaned back as they shouted that.

"You bitch!" He snarled.

"Children." A soft, but terrifying voice cut them off. Cinder's heart pounded within her chest as Salem coolly glanced over them. She may have been a Monster, but she was pretty sure that woman was the Devil.

"There's no need to bicker. It's unproductive, and I abhor the unproductive." Her gaze fell to Cinder. "Now my young friend, why don't you tell me about your recent success?"

She straightened in her chair. "My Queen, the man I employ, Roman, has succeed in matching our quotas, despite the earlier delays."

The red-eyed woman nodded in appreciation. "Good. How did this come to be?"

"He's been unusually motivated since last week my Queen. He seems to be afraid of what will happen if fails me. Fails you." She quickly corrected.

"And Arc proves his usefulness once more." Cinder laughed.

Salem hummed. "Fear that I'm sure you put there. Excellent work Cinder, you prove your worth yet again."

"Thank you, my Queen."

"You do seem hurried through my dear. What has you in such a rush?"

She swallowed. "I have an important meeting with a partner that I can't afford to miss...again."

"Ooh! Is it date night?" Kali asked teasingly.

The ghostly woman nodded slowly. "Very well, you are excused my dear."

"Thank you my-"

"But remember this, I will not tolerate failure. The clock is ticking, my dark Maiden."

Her eyes met the floor as she bowed her head. "Of course my Queen."

With a simple wave of her hand, Salem cut the feed.

Cinder let out a sigh of relief. She couldn't be late again…

Date night was too important, and it was her turn to set it up.

"Called it." the feline mother cheered.

She heard two knocks come from the door behind her.

"Enter." She quickly responded, spinning around in her chair to see Emerald enter, a nervous look on her face and a bundle in her arms. "What's our status?" She demanded.

"For what?" was the question.

"Maybe it's about trying to locate the previous Maiden." Pyrrha theorised.

"Or maybe it's about the attack on Beacon, making sure everything is ready for such a strike." Weiss thought.

"Promise you won't get mad?"

She shot her subordinate a look. "Emerald, let's be realistic."

The green haired girl sighed. "I found a 5-star restaurant on a few hours notice..."

"It's about the date." Ren deadpanned as some dropped in exasperation.

"Excellent." She was a woman with standards after all. Jaune could pick a greasy spoon when it was his turn.

"...And it's Big Daddy Bane's."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Emerald, do you think that Mercury will be able to identify you at the morgue? What with all the burns I mean."

"You gave me an hour! Because you forgot!" The girl complained.

"It's weird seeing her be so casual with you." Or in general Mercury thought.

She huffed. "I never forget, I just become distracted."

She could have sworn Emerald rolled her eyes at that. Maybe discipline was becoming an issue in their little unit. "Big Daddy is the only one that'd give us a reservation, and that's because he likes Jaune. Besides, Jaune will be ecstatic that he gets to visit his friend."

Well, that was true she supposed. Though, she'd prefer to have his full attention.

She sighed. "Very well. What of the rest of the evening?"

"You're going to see a movie."

She hummed. "Trite, but classic." Her eyes widened. "It's not a dog movie is it? Jaune was bawling at the one where the dog reincarnates over and over again." SHE hadn't cried. She'd simply had an allergic reaction to Vale's pollens. Gods but that dog reminded her of Jaune.

Que quiet snickering at the thought of the powerful and deadly Cinder Fall crying over a dog film, though Ruby was the same, she could never get through a film like that without shedding some tears.

Emerald winced. "No...it's a Spruce Willis movie."

She groaned. "Do you hate me Emerald?"

"Jaune loves Spruce Willis!" She comforted. "It's his favourite!"

"My husband has terrible taste."

"He's not that bad!" Jaune defended his favourite film star.

"You're preaching to the choir sister." Emerald muttered under her breath.

"What was that?"

The tanned girl snapped to attention. "I said I've got Mercury keeping Jaune distracted!"

"Good, what are they doing?"

"Um...playing catch." The girl said slowly.

That caught her attention. "The children's game?"

Emerald shrugged. "Merc's been weirdly insistent on playing it with Jaune for some reason. Something about making up for lost time."

"Oh that's bullshit! Like I'd ever do something so lame." Mercury crossed his arms.

"Oh calm down you idiot." Emerald said.

"No! Im getting tired of this horse shit about me wanting that idiot as a father figure."

"Come on, it's not the worst thing to want." Jaune spoke up.

"Oh yeah!?"

"Well I mean, I doubt I can compare stories with your dad, seeing how you're other is reacting I guess he's a douche bag."

"I killed him myself."

"So yeah a douche bag." Jaune nodded. "While my life wasn't as hard as yours, I certainly would have liked if my dad was supportive about me being a huntsman and actually help me."

"Still better than having someone beat the lessons into ya."

"Fair enough, maybe you'd like to talk about it more… over a game of catch?" Jaune offered.

"…I'd like that." Mercury accepted with a weak glare and quiet voice.

She sighed. "Well, I suppose it's not his emotional stability I picked him for. Do I have a dress?"

"Yes." The girl beamed as she unwrapped the package in her arms, revealing an elegant black dress. "What do you think?"

Her eyes flowed over the dress as the reached out to caress the fabric. "It's perfect."

"Thought you'd like it." Emerald stated proudly as she handed the dress over, waiting as she changed.

"How do I look?" She asked, giving a small spin and allowing the other girl to zip her up.

"You're going to knock him dead...metaphorically speaking of course." The green haired girl quickly amended.

She smiled to herself. "Excellent. Let's go then."

"Boss, wait." Emerald instructed, holding out one hand in front of her, as her other one fished in her pocket, emerging with a small gold ring. "Can't forget this."

She let out a sigh of relief as she slid it onto her hand. It wouldn't do to show up under-dressed.

"Thank you Emerald, you're a good friend."

Emerald deflated a little at the notion of being just a friend.

This Emerald however, lit up. "Wow, thank you-"

"Despite your sexual attraction to my husband."

She almost chuckled as the girl's face fell.

"I know it must have been hard for you." She continued. "Setting up what you might have imagined could have been your dream date with him. Maybe I will allow you to join us one night. For a birthday perhaps."

"Woah!" Neptune laughed.

Sun gave Jaune a thumbs up and a nod. "My man." He got smacked by Blake.

Emerald scowled. "His or mine? Who's this supposed to be a reward for?"

Her brow creased. "You have a birthday? Since when?"

The green haired girl sighed. "Since Jaune gave me one. Remember how upset he got when he found out that I didn't know when mine was? He demanded that we find a date. He chose May 10th, said that May was the month of Emeralds, and that-"

"-You were a ten." She tsked. "Yes, remarkably corny is my husband."

"It was kinda sweet."

"Yes, he is." She smirked. "I noticed you didn't say no."

The girl coloured. "I-I…"

"You really need to stop falling in to her traps." Yang chuckled.

She couldn't hold it in any longer, she began to snicker.

Emerald's eyes widened. "You're screwing with me!"

She was, wasn't she? She never used to play such games, not before Jaune. She couldn't figure out why for the life of her. It was a lot of fun.

"Well...not yet at least." She drawled.

The girl's jaw hit the floor.

Laughter rang from the audience once more at this.

Perhaps puns were permissible from time to time.

She felt a flutter in her stomach when she saw him standing at the entrance of the restaurant. There was nothing she could do to stop it, nor did she want to. He looked good.

He'd combed his hair, which was the first thing she'd noticed. The second was that he'd dressed for the occasion. Dark slacks led up to a white shirt, covered by a blue sports coat that she thought brought out his eyes. He'd even ditched those ridiculous boots that he always wore around. She knew he didn't like getting dressed up, his dates were always more adventurous, but he'd done it for her. It was one of the reasons she loved him.

"Once again he clears up nicely." Coco whistled. "Hey Arc, wanna- Ow!" She rubbed her arm after Velvet pinched it. "Wanna explain bun-bun?"

"No using our friends as models, its how you nearly scared off Yatsu and Fox."

"Gods you're beautiful."

That was another.

"My, my Mr. Arc, starting the smooth talk already?"

He grinned and held his arm out to her. "What can I say? I see a pretty lady, and I'm feeling lucky tonight."

She smiled back. "Think she's interested?"

"I'll let you know after dinner." He said as he held the door open for her, leading her inside.

"Oh it's so cute seeing such an adorable couple flirt." Kali and Summer cooed.

His face lit up when he saw who was manning the reception counter, and she internally sighed.

Here we go.

"Bane! How's it going, you old dog!"

The giant exploded in a laugh. "Jaune! Welcome! Who is this beautiful creature? Is this your mysterious wife I've heard so much about?"

She tsked at that. This low level dealer had no need to know of her existence, that was reserved for necessary evils - and wasn't there irony in that - like Roman. Still...it was nice to hear he talked about her.

"Yep, the one and only."

She'd better be.

The giant smirked and nudged Jaune with his elbow. "I can see why you're so interested in our book club, you need ideas. Might I recommend Book 4, Chapter 7, Scene 3?"

Blake blushed at this while Kali giggled and Ghira sighed despite smiling at his gorgeous wife.

She wasn't sure exactly what he was talking about, but from the way Jaune blushed, she could imagine.

"I assure you that my husband and I have active imaginations, thank you."

"Soooo… what is their sex life like?"

"YANG!" many cried out at the shameless blonde.

"What? It was a genuine question and Blake? Don't act like you won't note down the answer to that." Said girl blushed at being called out.

"Easy, I'm clearly on top always." Cinder smirked.

"Well…" Con' spoke up.

"What? Tell me!" Yang seriously wanted more dirt and teasing info.

"Let's just say both are switches but if it comes to a coin toss to who's on top then sometimes Cinder is willing to use a double sided head coin and call tails." Both Jaune and Cinder were blushing madly in embarrassment as others laughed.

Bane raised an eyebrow. "Fiery, isn't she?"

Jaune chuckled. "You have no idea."

The man laughed and clapped his hands together. "What brings you to our humble establishment?"

Her husband snorted. "Bane, if this is humble, I'm in trouble." He nodded towards her with a smile. "It's date night."

"Date night! Well then, we can't have you sit at an ordinary table, only the finest will do!" The giant turned and called to a hostess. "Coco! Take these fine people up to balcony, and see that they receive a bottle of our finest."

"Wait, im in this? I work at a drug lord's restaurant?" Coco asked bewildered.

"Most likely unknowingly." Glynda assured.

"Sure thing boss."

Cinder took in the young girl carefully, taking in her appearance and peering at Jaune for his reaction. She was certainly pretty enough, and she was forced to admit, not without a sense of fashion. But Jaune stared obliviously forward as the girl led them to their table, not giving her more than a passing glance.

Good.

"I don't know if this is protective or Yandere territory." Illa said.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Jaune. The man was loyal to a fault. But what she didn't trust, was literally any other human being alive.

Cinder nodded at that.

Experience had taught her that this was a wise choice. But, it didn't look like she'd have to worry about this one, who informed them that their server would be by shortly to take their order.

Jaune leaned across the table. "This is nice!"

She smiled. "I thought you'd like it. I spent a while picking it out." She'd 'hired' Emerald, so it counted.

He chuckled. "You know me too well. Also, tell Em I said thank you."

She balked. "How'd you know?"

He grinned. "I didn't. So, what'd she plan for us after this?"

"He's good." Elm chuckled.

She huffed. "Well, maybe nothing if you're going to be this insufferable."

"Awww, I was just teasing you. I wanna know!"

"I suppose it'll just have to be a surprise." It'd certainly been a surprise to her, not an hour before.

"You're mean." He joked.

"You have no-"

"Hi, I'm Velvet, I'll be your server."

Cinder's gaze flickered over to the young Faunus girl. Ok, this? This could be a problem. If there was something she'd learned about her knight, it was that he had a weakness for ears.

Velvet blushed at this as Coco laughed. Blake felt her own ears twitch at Jaune's apparent love for ears.

She had a pair in their closet at home…

"And deeper into the bedroom we go!" Yang cheered.

…which looked suspiciously like the ones atop this girl's head, which proved this to be true.

Her husband addressed the walking fetish. (This made Velvet squeak) "Hey Velvet, how are-"

"Say the line!" They heard Bane boom from across the restaurant.

She watched as the homewrecker sighed, her eyes finding the floor, before issuing 'the line.'

"Welcome to Big Daddy's...home of the Big D." She muttered.

"Oh my god." Many laughed at this.

"More enthusiasm!" Bane shouted.

"What's the Big D?" Jaune asked.

That was for her to know, and this flop-eared floozy to never find out.

"Monty! I think you need to run while you can Vel'." Coco nudged her partner.

"The scary thing is she can kill me."

"It's our specialty cocktail." The sex symbol explained.

"We'll take two." Jaune decided proudly.

The girl visibly cringed.

"So help me Velvet, you WILL ask the question!" Bane demanded.

She was honestly impressed with how small the tramp managed to make herself.

"May…" She swallowed. "May I inquire as to the size of your D?"

The laughter grew in volume and quantity.

She was definitely going to kill Emerald.

"The biggest. We're not driving." Jaune said with otherworldly confidence.

She'd do something respectful with the ashes, like throw them in the face of an orphan. Emerald would like that.

"I'll be back in just a minute." The nightwalker assured them, before practically bolting off.

"She seems nervous. Wonder if she's new?" Her knight observed.

She was NOT talking about Ms. Risqué Rabbit on date night. She scooted her chair closer to his, until they were side by side. Her hand...explored.

"Whoa, getting feisty are we?" Kali remembered being so bold herself, hell she still was!

"I'm not new, does that make me less exciting?"

He yelped, and she smirked. The night was back on track. Nothing could stop her now.

He laughed. "The moment I stop finding you exciting, I doubt I'll have a pulse."

That was probably truer than he knew.

"Good." She purred. "I think I might have an alteration to date night plans."

He raised an excited eyebrow. "Yeah?'

"Yes, what say we-"

A drink was placed before her. A gaudy, ridiculous drink that was both the colour blue, and in a 'D' shaped glass. She turned to tell the hoppy hooker that they'd be needing the check, and froze. Gone was the Velveteen Vixen, and in her place, something inexplicably worse.

Di-chromatic eyes winked back at her as the pink and brown girl passed Jaune his drink.

A flood of questions flowed through her mind. How? Why? Where was what's-her-name? Where would she hide this bitch's body?

"Was I just killed off screen!?" Velvet yelled while Coco held her and glared at Neo who held their hands up in peace.

"Oh hey Neo! Didn't know you worked here." Oh Gods, it got worse. How did Jaune know this harlot? Why was she staring him down like he was prey?

"You know each other?" She asked carefully.

"Huh? Oh yeah! Met her the other day when I ran into Broman. Nice guy by the way. I think she's in the same boat as Emerald." He whispered the last to her.

That was a very dangerous, very flammable boat to be in.

"You don't say? You know, I think I have to use the bathroom Jaune. I'm sure Neo will accompany me. You know, girls and bathrooms and all that." She said as she found her feet.

"I feel like if they do then it's gonna turn into a bathroom brawl." Qrow joked and hoped for a fight.

"Bathroom about to get a paint job." Neptune winced at the thought.

Neo promptly fell into her seat, and waved up at her, biding her farewell.

'This bitch.' A certain maiden thought.

Jaune chuckled nervously. "She's something else, right?"

She was about to be something else. Something much more on fire.

"I think maybe she gets nervous around people. Like she's shy."

Neo grinned at that.

"I don't think so baby."

"Has anyone seen Velvet?" Bane shouted over the crowd.

"I think I saw her taking a nap in back." Coco shouted back. "She was out of it, had to make sure she was still alive."

"Oh thank the gods." Velvet sighed in relief.

"Well looks like you get to live chatter box." Coco sent another glare at the killer who merely smiled back

"That girl is killing me!"

Neo shifted nervously in her seat. HER seat.

"Oh look, something's bothering the girl. We should let her go Jaune, no reason to hold her here."

Here? No. An unregistered building by the docks in Vale, where they'd have a chance to 'talk' in more depth? Certainly.

"Well yeah, Neo, we don't want to…Neo? Where'd she go?" The love of her life looked around in confusion. "How does she keep doing that?" The dense as depleted uranium, love of her life.

They'd finished the rest of their dinner without any additional incident, as a waiter named Russell took over their table. Russell was decidedly non-threatening, even if it looked like he might swing that way.

Beacon students took a minute to think that little Tibet of information through and couldn't find anything to disprove it.

She'd considered skipping the movie altogether, and simply heading home with Jaune. She was fairly certain that she could provide a bigger climax than this Spruce Willis character after all.

"So I think Jaune corrupted Cinder into another pun lover." Yang didn't miss the pun.

Cinder herself just shook her head in dismay. Gods no.

But she'd made the mistake of letting it slip that they had tickets. The way Jaune had lit up at the news had resigned her to watching this disaster with him. At least it didn't have dogs.

"Man babe, can't believe you decided to take us to the premier, I thought you hated these." Jaune said, as he practically skipped down the road.

"They're...interesting." She lied.

"I hear his partner's a dog in this one. What's the title again? Old dogs die hard?"

She was going to burn down an orphanage with Emerald inside it.

"Oh shit, we're going to be late! Let's cut down this alley."

That would normally sound like a remarkably poor choice, but...she was who she was. She rolled her eyes good naturedly and followed her husband.

Her first indication that something was wrong was Jaune's hand pushing her back, carefully corralling her behind him. The second was the voice that spoke from the darkness.

'Well, what do we have here?"

No.

"Looks like a pretty boy and his pretty bird."

No.

"We don't want any trouble." Jaune said carefully.

"I don't think they'll care what you want." Vernal snorted.

"Yeah, they just care about what you have." Neptune agreed.

"Well, see the thing is, we kinda do. Isn't that right Jimmy?"

"Might want more than that."

No. This happened to other people. She'd ensured that when she'd sold her soul. She was invincible.

"Stay behind me." Jaune whispered, slowly stepping forward.

"Okay Cinder I think it's time to show why you're not meant to be fucked with." Mercury leaned back with his hands behind his head.

"I don't think she will." Emerald disagreed.

"Oh yeah? Why not?"

"Because who else will she be showing?"

"Arc, duh."

"Yeah, the one person she doesn't want knowing what she can do."

"… well shit."

Jaune wasn't invincible though.

"Oh? Looks like the pretty boy wants to scrap."

"Well, we can take care of that pretty problem for him."

Jaune raised his fist and fell into an approximation of a fighting stance.

Her husband was many things. He was unreservedly kind, he was incredibly thoughtful, and he was a good person, but…

He was not a fighter.

She cringed as the first blow found his cheek, whipping his head around. He made to swing in return, but the second man was already upon him, driving his fist into his ribs.

"Okay, I think it's time to screw how you feel him seeing and do something." Qrow said.

Cinder however had a different thought. 'No! No, no, no, please let this escape last longer.' Despite her feelings, deep down she did want to forget that she was a monster whenever she saw herself and Ar-… Jaune together.

She was impossibly and excruciatingly paralyzed. To act was to reveal herself, and lose Jaune. To not act was lose Jaune still.

"Okay I think they might kill him so move your ass." Marrow started to feel nervous right now.

'It's okay, maybe he'll be knocked unconscious-' One voice rationalised.

'Or he could be killed before that even happens!' another argued.

"Come on boy, thought you were a big man?" Jimmy taunted, as he drove a knee into Jaune, sending him to the ground.

She burned their faces into her memory. They were wearing colours, they were part of a gang.

Jaune struggled to his feet, and raised his fists again.

"Stubborn one." Roman nodded.

"Looks like he's still got some fight left Bob."

"Let's beat it out of him."

The next few minutes were an agony that she'd never experienced before. Over and over again they knocked him to the ground, their fists finding his face and their boots finding his ribs. And yet, over and over again, he stumbled to his feet, always circling in front of her, always trying to protect HER.

"And what exactly are you doing!?" Pyrrha yelled, not understanding why Cinder was willing to let Jaune get hurt just to hide her true self.

Just stay down. She mentally pleaded.

Bob shook his head sadly as Jaune rose again. "I don't think he gets it Jimmy."

A knife appeared in Jimmy's hand. "That's ok Bob, I'm a good teacher."

"Fucking do something!" Yang slammed her fist down onto her arm rest.

Enough.

"Finally!" Nora shouted.

Flames erupted into her hand.

No more.

Jaune coughed, blood splattering onto the concrete. "I've been told I'm dense that way."

The cretins' eyes widened with shock, and they took a slow step back.

"I'm not...not going anywhere." Jaune panted out.

Bob shook his head at Jimmy, and the men turn and fled.

Her husband laughed in relief, and turned to her, that stupid grin on his face. "You ok baby?"

She didn't get the chance to respond, as he collapsed to the ground in a heap, the strain finally overtaking him. She was by his side in an instant.

She heard the tell-tale sound of shattering glass, and looked up to see Neo cleaning her blade off on Bob's corpse, giving Jimmy's a kick for good measure.

Their eyes met. This woman knew her secret, knew what Jaune was, and what he was not. Everything inside her screamed for her to burn this woman to ash, to protect their secret. And yet, she'd saved Jaune, and therefore her. What did that make them?

Neo slowly reached out a hand, flicking her eyes towards Jaune.

She cared about Jaune, and for now, that was all that mattered. The flames in her heart abated, even if for a moment, and she took the girl's hand. They blinked out of existence together.

'She truly does love him' Salem thought, her face not giving anything away.

The hospital had been a turbulent affair. Not the least of which because they appeared in the ER waiting room as if by magic. Once there, she'd made it VERY clear that her husband was to be treated immediately, lest she start freeing up rooms for them, one by one.

Neo, surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, had backed her claim.

And so she sat by his bedside, gently stroking his hair, careful to avoid the gashes in his scalp.

"You're such a fool." She whispered.

Her fool.

She hated herself.

Hated herself for not acting sooner. Hated herself for lying to him. Hated herself for having to lie.

But, there were others she hated far more.

The door to the room burst open, and Emerald and Mercury rushed in.

"Is he ok?"

"What can we do?"

She loved them for that, even if she could never speak it.

"Look after Jaune." She said instead.

"Where are you going?" Emerald asked, worry etched on her face.

"I'll be back shortly." Was her only answer. She leaned down and whispered three very important words to him, before moving towards the exit.

"I love you."

Both Jaune and Cinder didn't know how to react to this.

For Jaune, he was watching himself be with a murder, a monster who hid behind the mask of a loving, hard-working wife who loved him, someone who intended to harm innocent people. But as he looked at the reactions of Emerald and Mercury, he noticed sometimes they were surprised by her attitude, like they had never seen her like this. Did that mean he was having an effect on her? Changing how see felt and acted, would she even go through with what she was planning?

Cinder kept repeating in her head that such a dream could never come to life, that it was a child's dream, one she once had before she decided to no longer be a victim. To find someone who loved her and cared for her and wanted nothing in return.

She couldn't allow such weakness, she was watching how this bond was changing her, how she acted and thought. She shouldn't be afraid for him to see who she really was, she had the power to keep him from leaving her even if he thought she was a monster, that's what she should have done. He would stay and obey.

But would his love?

…

…

…

Was that what love was? Not just primal desire for one another's bodies, not just a stress relief, not just a silly notion of being a happy couple, but the want of a partner's love and affection and the feeling of heartbreak at the thought of that love dying through fear of him know that she was a…

Monster?

Even if she wanted such a life, she couldn't be with him, no love was shared between the two, at least from him. After all.

This monster took his partner's life away.

Emerald moved to intercept her, but Mercury caught her. They really did understand her, each in their own way.

She pushed through the door and entered into the hallway of the hospital, her eyes falling to her new...something. Neo pushed off her place on the wall and met her gaze. She reached out to her, and she spoke three more very important words.

"Take me there."

She could feel the vibrations of the music as it boomed out of the warehouse as they approached.

They apparently called themselves 'The Departed.' She supposed that was fitting.

She summoned a pair of black blades to her hands, as she listened to the scrape of Neo drawing her own.

Cinder Fall was a monster.

She knew this. Sometimes, she liked to forget.

But now?

This city was about to remember.

The projection fizzed out as Con' took the stage. "And that's all we shall be seeing, while there is more to this world, I think we should move on."

"A cliff hanger ending. Hate those." Sun said.

"You said this world had more to offer. Why not continue?" Salem asked.

"Well I feel that we have given this world enough attention for now." The god explained.

"Will we come back to this world?" Saphron asked.

"Possibly, like I said, this world certainly has a lot to offer, but for now I feel that a change in scenery would be better."

…

…

…

"…Could we see one more thing from it?" The audience turned to see it was Cinder who asked this, she kept her eyes on Con'. Not once looking at others questioning or knowing looks.

Con' was silent for a moment before he spoke. "What in particular would you like to see?"

"…I don't know."

Con' seemed to be mulling over the request before he nodded. "I think I have just the scene." He snapped his fingers and the portal whirled to life once more.

She shuffled around the bathroom in her favourite hoodie, his, getting ready for bed.

"My favourite damn hoodie." Jaune mumbled

It had been a long day. It had been a hard day. She was exhausted.

She'd pulled Mercury to the side before he'd tried to take off, and informed him in no uncertain terms that her husband was to get stronger under his tutelage, but under no circumstances was he to pass the Huntsman test. His life depended on it.

She'd had Emerald check into this 'Glynda,' and sure enough, it was THE Glynda Goodwitch, the woman directly below Ozpin at Beacon. Gods, but how was it that Jaune knew everyone?

"Wait. Am I trying to enter Beacon again?" Jaune asked.

"And you apparently know Miss Goodwitch in this one."

"You don't think he's trying to…"

"I doubt Mr Arc would try using our assumed friendship to enter Beacon, and I even then I would put a stop to such a tactic." Glynda answered professionally.

Speaking of the cheeky thief…

She held up the box that the girl had slipped into her grocery bag without her noticing, an unmistakable green 'E' scrawled on the box. It certainly explained why the girl had been so insistent that SHE be the one to put the groceries up. If Jaune had found it, he would have lost his mind.

"About what?"

She wouldn't let him get his hopes up like that.

"Get my hopes up for what? What's going on?" Jaune asked.

"I think we skipped over from when you were admitted into the hospital so something could have happened and we just don't have the context for this." Ren theorised.

It was impossible. She knew it was impossible after what she'd been through. Jaune had always accepted that, never judged her for it, despite how disappointed she knew he was.

"Cindy, you coming to bed?" She heard Jaune call.

But still…

"Just a minute my love." She called back.

The test only took a moment, but the wait somehow seemed to stretch on forever.

"Test?" Jaune didn't know what to think. It couldn't be what he thought it was.

Cinder shared the same thoughts as he.

Certain women had an idea as to what she was going through, after all they had experienced it themselves. Some more than once.

All she needed was for what she knew to be true to show up, so she could sleep in peace.

The second line seemed to mock her, and everything she knew, everything she was, as it appeared.

"Test? Second line? Jaune being disappointed?" Nora had no idea what was going on while others eyes widened.

She couldn't be a mother. It was supposed to be impossible.

The sound of nothing was never so loud, it stretched on for seemingly ever, could this be?

She fell to her knees, and for the first time in a very, very long time, she shed tears. The bitter irony being the she couldn't tell if they were from joy or grief.

Mothers sympathised with Cinder, they knew that tear between joy and dread at a serious change in their lives.

"Baby, are you ok?" He called out in concern.

She strained to keep her voice steady.

"Yes my knight, I'm on my way. Everything's fine."

No matter how often she did it, she always hated lying to Jaune.

Cinder Fall was a monster.

She knew this.

And now, she knew she was very, very afraid.

Nobody seemed to know what to say, those that knew Cinder just couldn't imagine her being a mother.

Pyrrha felt cheated, here she was, someone who loved Jaune for himself and fantasied about such a life with him only to watch her killer live her dreams. It was like she was in hell.

Cinder couldn't think properly, nothing made sense right now. Hell if you said fish could fly she'd probably agree with you.

She was a mother? Or at least an alternate version of her was. No, why was she surprised. They were watching different worlds with infinite possibilities, one was bound to show what she could never have.

So why did it seem so impossible even when she was watching it?

Jaune was stumped at the idea of being a father. Hell he didn't know if he actually ever wanted to settled down and have a family, his dreams were to be a huntsman and help the world however he could, now he was witnessing himself being a father to Cinder's child. He didn't know what to think of do.

…

…

…

…Would… would the child be like him?

As soon as he thought that, his mind began racing a million miles per hour.

Would he have a son or daughter?

Would he be a good father?

Would they want to be hunters like he was?

Would Cinder be a good mom?...

He had no clue where that last one came from but it stuck to his head, could he and Cinder ever truly have a life together? Create a life together?

Could they have actually fallen in love?

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

AND THAT'S A WRAP FOR MONSTERS MARRIAGE.

My god that took some time.

Another reason it took so long is because I was making another chapter for Multi-Arc-Verse, I won't spoil it but I am having a slight hiccup with it.

Credit for the original story goes to Jiu-jitsu dude for such a fantastic and well-made story, I'd recommend reading his other works as well, these have only been the first 5 chapters out of 12 if you've never read Monsters marriage.

I am such a fan for Knight-Fall and I will fight anyone who tries to change my view on said ship.

Hope you are all indeed staying safe and healthy and to all essential workers I thank you for your services and hard work during these scary days.

Leave a review on what could be improved or what you liked and I will do my best to either improve of keep up the good work.

Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter and hope you do go see Jiu-Jitsu dude's other works.

Goodbye and stay safe.