Shards of Reminisce Ch.49 ♥

Ding-Ding-Ding Dong

Ding-Ding-Ding Dong

I'm cold.

But it's not an awful cold. Nice. Welcoming.

I'm... happy?

Yes. Can't believe this small thing brings so much joy. Snowflakes falling. I stick out my tongue to catch them.

"This is snow! AMAZING! INCREDIBLE!!!!"

That isn’t me.

"First time... SO much more beautiful than rain! I can feel happiness fill all my being!!!!"

I turn to my strange friend. His face shifts when I try to focus. But his smile stays.

He's happy too. Didn't think snow would make him happy. Maybe it's not the snow. Maybe it's having a friend?

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU FRIEND!" 

He hugged me?

A hug... how long since I did that?

"As my thanks, I'd like you to...And I am too, to have the happiness of a friend..."

Something's wrong. Cold creeps up my spine.

"I'm ready any time! Now...!!!" 

That smile is wrong.

No.

"Hmm? Oh RIGHT.... No napkins though." 

Don't live to...

"But I was born...."

No, don't—this isn't right. Think this through.

Why is it colder now? Not pleasant anymore. Freezing my bones.

"But..." His face is flickering.

PLEASE.

"...Got it!" 

The air warms instantly. Snowflakes are gentle again.

Thank you.

"Actually, I didn't, but if you say so, then I'll try!"

Glass-bell laughter.

You will understand.

"Maybe one day, I just have to keep on. And maybe one day I will understand your words."

He's leaving. Footprints vanishing in the snow.

My only friend.

"Let's meet again someday!"

I wave as he... returns? Moving wrong. Backwards.

"...name again? Have you..."

"Ma'iq! I like..."

His hands are warm. Why am I cold?

"Still, I'd like you to enjoy some delicious thoughts, so here!"

Something in my palm. Small. Wrapped.

What's this?

"And now, for real. Bye-Bye."

He leaves. Returns. Says I deserve a sweet.

Then gone. He is happy right?

Then I am too.

Candy?

I unwrap it; the paper crinkling between my stiff fingers, and pop it into my mouth.

It's sweet...

But why do I feel so empty?

…

…

…

And my eyes snap open.

I blink slowly, my vision clearing to reveal the familiar ceiling of Neo's apartment. Wait, why are we in her apartment and not mine? 

Oh, right—this was the closest and safest place we could crash after that massive clusterfuck. Not like I had many options after nearly getting torn to shreds by that abomination. But I remember how the bullhead took us to the city and medics patched us up quickly and we left in a taxi.

Just as expected from her place, sunlight filters through partially drawn pink curtains, reaching the foot of the bed. My ears twitch and perk up fully as they catch the soft sound of breathing beside me. 

I slowly turn my head to the side and find Neo awake as well, her mismatched eyes focused intently on me. Her lips curl into a small smile—not her usual predatory grin or that insufferably smug smirk. Just a simple smile adorning her face, one that speaks to me without uttering a single word. 

She moves closer, nuzzling against me, her cheek rubbing against mine in a surprisingly affectionate gesture that makes my tail curl involuntarily.

Without thinking, I wrap my arms around her slender waist, pulling her fully on top of me. Ah, she is naked.

And I’m as well. 

Well, I do remember throwing them away since they were torn beyond repair by the fight and we were too tired to bother putting on our pajamas.

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise, but she recovers quickly and rests her head on my chest after adjusting a strand of her long dual-colored hair. 

Only then does she look up at me, a question lingering in those captivating, exotic eyes.

What does she want?

No, I think I know. 

I reach up and gently tilt her chin with my fingers, my thumb caressing her cheek as she leans into my touch. She is soft. For a moment, we just stay like that, looking at each other. No words needed—not that she could speak, anyway. 

But neither does she use her semblance.

Sometimes silence says more than any conversation could.

The nightmare in Forever Fall feels distant now, just a bad memory, one more added to the ever-growing pile. But we both survived, we both saved each other, so that's what matters in the end. And we definitely don't want an encore any time soon. I've had enough Grimm encounters to last a lifetime—or at least until my luck runs out again.

Huh, her eyes are always beautiful to look at. 

And all those thoughts die when she bites my finger, although with no actual strength behind it. A mischievous grin spreads across her face, replacing the gentle smile from moments ago. 

I can't help but snort, shaking my head at her antics. "Really? That's how you want to start the morning?"

However, her lips wrap around my thumb and she suckles on it gently, her tongue flicking over it.

My cheeks heat at the sudden display of affection, but I don't pull my hand back, allowing her to continue. She doesn't stop there though, biting down on the tip of my thumb and releasing it slowly, dragging her teeth against my skin. Before she kicks off all our bed sheets to the floor.

Damn, that is hot.

Before I realize it, she's already straddling me, her hands resting on my chest. She smirks down at me, grinding her hips against mine and eliciting a low groan from me.

Her entire naked body looks way too appetizing for someone who just woke up. There's no way she woke up feeling horny or anything. Or did she?

"Is this a reward?" My thoughts immediately derail as my gaze focuses on her ample chest, her breasts swaying with each motion. Despite being short, she has big breasts and ass. She is stacked.

Short and stacked... Shortstack?

Cute. I like that name.

She is a cute shortstack.

Her hips don't stop moving, rubbing against my rapidly hardening member until it pokes her ass cheeks.

"Neo..." I trail off, unable to stop myself from staring at her perfect body, her skin now glowing thanks to the early morning light.

She giggles silently, her eyes flashing with amusement as she grinds even harder, her lips curling into a sultry smile. Her hands slide down my chest, nails lightly scratching my skin as they make their way to my stomach, where she gives a light pinch before it finally reaches my crotch, her slender fingers wrapping around my manhood and guiding it to her surprisingly wet entrance.

Moving it up and down, coating it with her juices. And all I do is stare at the arousing scene that makes me throb.

But she just wants to fool around. Not like I will deny her.

However, she stops playing with my cock when my tip pushes against her folds and she gives it a slight squeeze before pushing down, causing my eyes to widen in surprise as my ears perk up.

That's different.

The tip burns pleasantly as it penetrates a little inside her burning canal. And as expected, she pauses for a moment, her body tensing slightly as she looks at me again and flashes me a grin.

What does she want?

Except, she doesn't say another word. Instead she takes a deep breath.

And then, without hesitation, she pushes herself down to the hilt, taking me fully inside her with one go. Leaving me totally speechless as my brain stopped working momentarily, all my focus going at the warm velvety walls nicely squeezing my shaft.

Neo is supposed to be a tease, just fooling around and getting off.We were always having fun here and there before we continued with our day.

Never going all the way.

But now she is taking my length fully, gasping loudly as my tip finally reaches the end of her slick tunnel, her hips stilling as she adjusts to my size.

"What... You..." I begin, but the words catch in my throat as she rolls her hips, pressing against my pelvis, a wave of pleasure drowning my senses, rendering me speechless. Her body moves, a steady rhythm, back and forth.

It doesn't take long for her to get used to my size and soon enough she's bouncing up and down on my lap, her walls squeezing me tightly, refusing to let go. With each descent, her breasts bounce wildly, making her a hypnotic sight.

But I still have some will to reach up and cup them with my hands, squeezing her supple mounds gently at first before I dig my fingers in her, making her gasp in surprise. She grins down at me, her hands covering mine and urging me to do more.

And so I do, my right hand pinching her nipple and pulling a little, while the other squeezes her harder, making her shudder and arch her back. I can see how her body trembles as she picks up speed, riding me harder and faster, her walls clamping down even tighter than before.

And it's fucking amazing.

She's amazing.

I buck my hips in response and she bounces back, our movements now perfectly in sync, like we were made for each other. She knows exactly what she's doing, her body responding to mine, her hips rolling and twisting, sending jolts of pleasure running through my body that only entice me to go for more.

And she doesn't stop there, her walls quivering around me, threatening to break me in half. Each time she moves, they contract, sucking me deeper into her almost as if they had a mind of their own.

And I might finish way earlier, ruining the moment.

And I don’t want that to happen.

So I let go of her breasts, grabbing her waist instead, and pulling her down onto me, forcing her to take more of my length as I thrust upwards, driving myself deeper inside her as her breasts are crushed on my chest. An unfamiliar sensation that I enjoy a lot more than I thought.

Her eyes widen momentarily but she soon adjusts to the new position, her hips moving even faster than before as she meets my movements. My manhood stretches her wide, making sure she is never empty.

Our bedroom fills with the sound of flesh slapping against flesh, our bodies colliding with each thrust, the bed creaking under us, our sweat-covered bodies pressed tightly together.

Her moans grow louder and louder, her walls clenching around me, squeezing me harder than ever that it actually starts to hurt.

She's close.

And I was dying to shoot a lot earlier.

But I didn't want to ruin this moment, to pull out of her warm embrace. She felt too good to stop, her walls welcoming me so lovingly, sucking me back in every time I pulled out.

"Fuck..." I grit my teeth, trying to hold on a little longer, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. She wasn't going to last either, her hips shaking violently as she continued to bounce on my lap.

My hands tighten around her waist and I pull her down one last time, burying myself to the hilt, feeling how I reach her cervix and push just a little more, causing her walls to spasm around me as I finally explode inside her. My fingers dig into her skin, never letting go, as I empty myself into her, her eager snatch milking me dry, her body quivering uncontrollably as everything inside her felt even hotter than before.

So with a grunt I pull back a little and pump into her again, enjoying the last strands going into her, a move she hummed in appreciation.

For a few moments, we just stayed like that, panting heavily and looking into each other's eyes as we slowly went back down. Then, her flushed expression softens, her gaze turning almost loving, her lips curving into a tender smile.

She leans down and places a kiss on my cheek, her breath tickling my skin as she nuzzles against me again.

I close my eyes and pull her closer to me, enjoying the warmth of her body and how soft she feels. My arms soon close around her, holding her against me and inhaling her scent, her hair tickling my nose.

Her scent is... nice. Familiar even.

She feels like… home.

Neo sighs contently, her slender fingers tracing circles on my chest. Yet, I'm not going soft, I'm still hard inside her. Sadly, not for long as she is the one to pull out, my manhood falling with wet pop but still ready for more.

"Again?" I ask.

She raises her head and pulls her body back a little, grinning down at me as she gives me a nod.

That’s all the confirmation before I take a deep breath and sit up, bringing her along with me. My hands move from her waist to her ass, squeezing it softly before giving her round butt a good slap, making her jump slightly in surprise.

She raises an eyebrow at me, but I just chuckle and push her back on the bed, changing positions with me now on top.

"Your turn." I say simply, a smirk playing across my lips as I position myself between her legs, rubbing and probing at her entrance again.

Her eyes widen slightly, her cheeks turning redder, but she doesn't resist, spreading her legs open for me.

I would have slammed myself inside her after that open invitation instead I lean down and bite her neck, then kiss the spot and then trailing soft kisses all the way down to her collarbone before moving to her breasts, my hands squeezing her mounds firmly, kneading them gently. Playing with them as much as I could, I will never get tired of this.

So I move lower and my tongue flicks across her nipple, teasing it lightly before taking it into my mouth, sucking on it hard. She gasps quietly, her hands finding my head, fingers running through my hair as she holds me in place.

My lips curl into a smile around her nipple and I bite down, tugging at it playfully before releasing it and switching to the other one, repeating the process until she squirms underneath me. Getting high in this new sense of control over her.

She might be mute but still make cute sounds that only embolden me.

I let go of her breasts and look up at her face, grinning widely when I see how flushed she is, her eyes half-lidded and biting down on her bottom lip.

She looks so fucking sexy.

And I want more.

My hands move to her sides, holding her still as I lift my hips off her, pulling out halfway before slamming back inside her, making her cry out in surprise, her legs wrapping around my waist and holding onto me tightly, not letting me move for a moment.

But this time I won in the short struggle and I pulled out halfway and then slammed back in, eliciting another gasp from her and her legs couldn't hold me back anymore. So I started picking up speed, our bodies moving together, her walls sucking me back in every time I pulled out, still refusing to fully surrender to me. 

And that makes me grin, my thrusts becoming even faster, her body bouncing with each movement, her breasts swaying wildly. I love the challenge, making her body surrender and watching her face twisting every time I buried myself inside her.

But then her hands grab at my arms, gripping them tightly as she tries to steady herself and her legs move again, locking around me with new force, her thighs pressing against my sides as she grins at me.

Almost mockingly.

And I respond with a grin of my own.

My hands move lower, from her navel to her waist and I hold her there, my grip firm yet gentle as I keep pounding into her, my manhood stretching her wide, making sure to ruin her tight little pussy completely.

Neo throws her head back and screams silently, her whole body shaking violently as I push myself deeper inside her, reaching parts of her that no other man has... WILL EVER FUCKING TOUCH.

I'm the only one who can fuck her. And I'm going to make sure that she'll never forget it.

I bury my face between her breasts, my tongue licking her skin as I continue to thrust into her, feeling her react accordingly, as she isn’t holding back anymore.

It isn’t a surprise that she reaches her limit first, her walls pulsing around me, her whole body trembling as she arches her back off the bed, her hands gripping my hair tightly and pulling at it, her nails digging into my scalp and crushing one of my ears.

"FUCK!" I groan loudly, my entire body tensing as I reach my limit as well, spilling everything inside her once again. She lets out another silent scream as she feels me filling her up, her walls quivering around me, milking every drop from my balls.

If she wasn't full before then now, she should be now.

After staying still for eternal seconds, I collapse on top of her, panting heavily as I use her breast as my new pillows, inhaling deeply, taking in her scent as we lay together, our sweat-covered bodies pressed against each other.

We stay like that for a while, catching our breaths before I slowly pull out of her, my seed leaking from her swollen folds, a very arousing sight. That causes another throb, and I gulp, as my chest is burning, and I look down to see that it hasn't gone down either.

Neo's eyes widen at that and she quickly sits up and wraps her hand around my manhood, stroking it quickly, causing me to groan loudly as I feel myself harden even further.

She grins widely at me, her free hand moving down to rub her entrance, coating her fingers with my semen before bringing them to her mouth, sucking them clean.

And that's all I need to lose it completely.

"Neo!" I growl as I grab her and throw her onto the bed, making sure her ass is facing me.

Her eyes widen for a moment before she grins back at me, her eyes flashing in amusement as she wiggles her butt in front of me.

I grip my shaft tightly and rub the tip against her folds, teasing her entrance before I thrust myself inside her with a loud grunt.

"Oh fuck, Neo..." I mutter through gritted teeth, trying to keep myself from cumming immediately at how different it feels. "Fuck, you feel so good."

She just smirks at me, rolling her hips slowly, grinding against me while I remain still, letting her adjust to my size again. My hands move down to her ass, squeezing it hard before giving it a spank, making her gasp loudly and clench around me. A very good reaction.

I grin, getting a good grip on her hips and mounting her, plunging into her depths. I hilted her in that one animalistic stroke, my pelvis and balls lewdly pressed hard into her ass. She moaned again, shuddering with the same animalistic pleasure as me as she gripped the pillow.

It felt so fucking good to be fully inside her again.

But this time was different. I could feel her cervix opening slightly, allowing me deeper inside. And that made me growl, slamming my hips against her ass harder and harder with each thrust. I gritted my teeth, groaning as I looked down at my woman's slender, curvy frame, her round ass and back slick with sweat, dual hair plastered to her shoulder blades. Her face now buried into the pillow as she panted hard, moaning in bliss.

A bliss that was only thanks to ME.

I moved my hands down to clutch her swinging breasts and squeeze them, gripping them as I pounded away. The slaps of skin filled the room along with her moans and mine, the headboard of the bed knocking into the wall with every stroke. I wanted to make her feel good, but I also wanted her to know who she belonged to.

And that caused a primal heat to well up in my chest, and I grabbed her hair with my left hand, pulling her head back.

"You like this, don't you?" I growled, grunting as I thrusted in again, feeling her ass jiggle with every impact.

She nodded frantically, not even bothering to try to speak. I leaned down to kiss her neck, sucking on it, feeling her pulse race under my tongue. My other hand moved from her breast down to her stomach, feeling the softness of her flesh before applying pressure.

But it excited me more when I could FEEL my cock inside her through her toned stomach.

I let go of her hair to grip her stomach, feeling that small bulge with every thrust.

That is the moment that her arms finally give out, falling down onto the bed and her back arching as she pushes her ass up, raising it up higher.

Finally surrendering.

And that's all I need.

I roar into the room as I grab her hips again and slam down, pressing my entire body onto her shorter frame, feeling her curves against me. My eyes almost black out as I exploded for the last time, shooting my seed inside her womb. I know it is her womb, I just know I reached there.

A strange feeling of pride swelling in my chest.

"Fuck..." I groaned as I collapsed on top of her, gasping for air.

But I didn't stay like that for long, rolling off her, pulling out with a wet pop and finally feeling my member go down.

I fall back onto the bed as she soon rolls next to me, giving me a chance to rest my head on her chest, my new pillows, as she runs her fingers through my hair, her other hand rubbing my ear gently. The sensation sends pleasant shivers down my spine. I still hate how much I like how that feels. 

But unlike the other times she was doing it to tease me, she was gentle, actually very gently in the way she was playing with my ears, which let themselves be touched by her.

Maybe I was just too exhausted.

Soon enough, Neo becomes increasingly… affectionate, her hands caressing my face, my shoulders, my back—everywhere she can reach. Something that confuses me at first, because she was never this clingy, almost desperate, as if she's making sure I'm really here and not some illusion. Her fingers return to my ears repeatedly, the soft strokes making my tail curl involuntarily.

And that was enough.

Finally regaining a bit of my strength, I push myself up, positioning myself above her once more, but not with the intention of going back inside her. No, just being on top of her so I can stare down into those mismatched eyes of hers that always captivated me. I always seem to get lost in them. 

Putting all my weight to my left side, my right hand is free to reach for her face, fingers gently caressing her cheek. She leans into my touch without hesitation, her eyes fluttering closed momentarily.

That’s when I notice how disheveled her hair is—pink and brown strands splayed across the pillow in beautiful chaos. With the same hand that caressed her cheek, I carefully brush a strand away from her face, tucking it behind her ear to get a clearer view of her.

Our eyes lock again, and the world outside this room ceases to exist. At this very moment, there's only us. I can even hear our heartbeats—or maybe it's just mine, pounding so loudly in my ears that it seems to echo through the entire room.

Then, almost imperceptibly, Neo Politan nods slowly.

A nod of approval.

I gulp, my throat suddenly dry, my head already imagining so many scenarios, but I still won’t back down.

No after everything we just did moments ago, it would be so retarded if I suddenly got cold feet.

I lean down, closing the distance between us, and finally—finally—press my lips to hers. 

And we are kissing.

She doesn't turn away. 

Doesn't shatter into a thousand glass pieces. 

Doesn't push me away or stop me. 

Doesn’t bite me.

She simply accepts me, accepts this moment between us, whatever it means.

It was beautiful—exactly what I imagined it would be with her. Better, even.

I pull back, my face burning as a wave of embarrassment suddenly washes over me. I can't look her in the eye for more than a fleeting second, my gaze darting away. At least Neo seems equally affected—she's giggling, one hand trying to cover her face as if to hide her reaction.

[Affection with (Neo Politan) increased by 7, 49/100]

I can't help but stare at her. How beautiful Neo actually is. Somehow I know she is glowing with that embarrassed smile. Not just sexy, or cute, or any other simple word that doesn't do her justice. She's naturally beautiful, in a way I'd never get tired of appreciating. Even with her hair a mess and some of her old makeup smudged, there's something captivating about her that goes beyond physical appearance.

And I want her. Gods, I really want her.

Despite fucking everything.

Following an impulse I don't bother to question, I move forward and bite on the shoulder close to her neck with my canines—not hard enough to break skin, but enough to make a point. 

She gasps, the sound sending a jolt through me, before retaliating by biting my shoulder too, but not with the same care. I hiss in pain, but I don’t get away.

Only then she pulls back with a playful pout, and I can't resist kissing those pouty lips again. 

I really love kissing her. Every denied moment, every interrupted chance, every time I held back—all of it makes this sweeter. 

Worth the wait.

Finally, I settle back down onto the bed, and Neo curls up against my shoulder, holding me close and nuzzling into the crook of my neck. We just stay there, enjoying each other's company and warmth, even without a blanket to cover ourselves. 

The silence between us is comfortable, filled with unspoken understanding.

[Affection with (Neo Politan) increased by 1, 50/100] 

Congratulations on gaining a lover!

Wait, what? 

No.

I will not overthink it. Not the fucking time. I'll just accept something good without questioning it to death. I close my eyes and focus on Neo's steady breathing against my chest, the weight of her small body pressed against mine, and just... rest.

I don’t care if it is still morning.

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-Jeanne d’Arc-

Beacon Academy settled into a routine. For Jeanne, that meant combat classes, team training sessions, and a growing mountain of homework.

Today she was tackling Doctor Oobleck's assignment on predecessor kingdoms - the civilizations that existed before the founding of Vale, Mistral, Atlas, and Vacuo. She balanced a stack of heavy history books in her arms as she made her way back to the dorm room; her scroll held precariously between her fingers as she tried to watch a viral video Yang had sent her.

"Did he really just-" she giggled, so focused on the screen that she didn't notice the figure rounding the corner until it was too late.

The collision sent her sprawling backward, landing unceremoniously on her butt. Books scattered across the hallway floor with a series of heavy thuds.

"I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, scrambling to collect the fallen texts before looking up. Her apology died in her throat when she realized exactly who she'd crashed into. "P-Professor Ozpin!"

The headmaster stood calmly before her, coffee mug somehow still perfectly upright in his hand despite the crash. Although, his expression was more amused than annoyed.

"No harm done, Miss d'Arc," he said, his voice measured as always. "Though perhaps we could both benefit from keeping our eyes on the path ahead, rather than on our scrolls."

"Yes sir, absolutely, won't happen again," she mumbled, mortified. Of all the people to literally run into...

Ozpin knelt down to help gather her books. "Studying the pre-kingdom era? Doctor Oobleck's assignment, I presume?"

"Yes sir," she nodded, reaching for a particularly thick tome titled 'Pre-Vytal Civilizations and Their Cultural Impact.'

However, as her fingers touched the leather binding, a searing pain exploded behind her eyes. Jeanne gasped, clutching her head as the world around her warped and twisted in a flash of blinding light.

The hallway vanished. The polished floors of Beacon Academy gave way to soft grass beneath her knees. The sterile white walls transformed into an open sky.

She was... somewhere else. A humble looking cottage stood before her, surrounded by a small but well-tended garden. Four women moved around the property, one watering plants, another repairing the cottage's roof, a third chopping wood, and the fourth hanging laundry.

They looked so ordinary, yet something about them seemed... important. Vital, even.

From inside the cottage, an elderly hunched man emerged, leaning heavily on a walking stick. She couldn’t see his face, it was distorted, but she could still tell he was happy.  All the women paused in their work, turning toward him with warm smiles.

"You've shown such kindness to a weary old man," he spoke, his voice somehow both frail and powerful. "Your selfless compassion has brought some light to my final days."

As he spoke, a soft glow emanated from his body. The light grew brighter, separating into four distinct orbs of energy - one green, one orange, one blue, and one white. Each sphere floated toward one of the women, enveloping them in radiant light.

The pain in Jeanne's head intensified as the vision sharpened because she knew this story - every child in Remnant did. 

The Story of the Seasons. 

But this wasn't reading it in a book or hearing it from her mother. This felt... real. 

Like a memory.

And then she woke up.

"Jeanne!"

It was Pyrrha, her partner, who was sitting next to her and looked immensely relieved as she pulled her into a hug. Wait - she was in a bed?

"W-What happened?" Blinking in confusion, Jeanne looked around and realized she was in the school infirmary. The antiseptic smell and stark white walls were unmistakable.

"You collapsed in the hallway," Pyrrha answered as she released her from the hug. "The headmaster was quick to bring you here. What happened?"

"I don't know," Jeanne rubbed her temple, the memory of the vision still crystal clear. "I just stumbled into him and then got a big headache and saw... like a dream?"

"A dream?" Her partner's brow furrowed.

Before Jeanne could elaborate, the click of a cane against tile floor announced Headmaster Ozpin's arrival. Professor Goodwitch was right behind him, her usual stern expression softened slightly with what appeared to be concern.

"Miss Nikos, I must ask you to give us a moment," Ozpin said quietly. "I need to speak with Miss d'Arc alone."

Pyrrha looked hesitant, glancing at Jeanne for confirmation.

"It's okay," Jeanne nodded. "I'll be fine."

After Pyrrha reluctantly left, Ozpin pulled a chair beside Jeanne's bed. His normally calm demeanor seemed... tense.

"What kind of dream?" he asked, his voice unusually direct.

"An old man," Jeanne began slowly, trying to piece together the fragments. "And four women... it was like he was handing out something to each of them. Glowing orbs of different colors."

Ozpin's entire demeanor changed in an instant. He exchanged a meaningful glance with Goodwitch, whose composure had slipped enough to reveal genuine surprise.

Clearing his throat, Ozpin leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Miss d'Arc, could you tell me... what is your favorite fairy tale?"

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Bonus scene: Guess Who's Got Ears?

-Roman Torchwick-

Roman Torchwick drummed his fingers irritably against Melodic Cudgel as he watched the hired muscle loading crates into yet another shipping container. The whole operation was moving at a glacial pace without proper supervision.

"Put your backs into it, you incompetent buffoons!" he snapped, twirling his cane with practiced flair. "I've seen hags work faster than you!"

This was a job that damn cat should be handling - the one Neo had taken such a bizarre shine to. But the worthless stray hadn't shown his whiskers in over a week, even AFTER he had sent Neo to drag him back by his tail.

He should have seen this coming. Neo spoiling her "pet" rotten, probably bankrolling the faunus's every whim. There wasn't much Roman could do about it either - give Neo a direct order? She'd just give him that mocking, silent laugh of hers before vanishing into thin air.

That was the thing about their partnership. He couldn't really order her around or force her to do something - not if he valued keeping all his organs in their current locations. He could only nudge her in directions where their interests aligned. And right now, those interests shouldn’t be aligning around her pet project. Instead, it should be figuring out what the hell was going on with that masked freak and whatever insanity Cinder was cooking up.

The memory of those glowing eyes shifting from green to blue still gave him chills. Either Neo had finally slipped up in one of her meticulous clean-up jobs, or they were dealing with something that shouldn't be possible. 

Neither option was particularly comforting.

Roman adjusted his bowler hat and took a long drag from his cigar. For now, he'd focus on keeping the fire witch happy while quietly exploring his options for breaking free of her grasp. After all, Roman Torchwick wasn't about to be someone else's puppet forever.

One way or another, he'd find a way out of this mess. He always did.

The click of familiar heels on concrete announced her dear Neo's arrival. So, of course, he turned, extending his arms in a theatrical welcome, genuinely pleased to see her but immediately curious about her solo appearance.

"Neo! Back from your little excursion, I see." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Still no sign of our stray?"

Something was different about her. Roman, ever attentive to details, noticed immediately that Neo seemed to be... glowing? There was a certain radiance to her that he'd never seen before, and it immediately set off warning bells. Because she wasn’t using her semblance for that, it was natural.

Neo simply grinned, tilting her head to the side with that mischievous look he knew all too well. As she moved, Roman's eyes caught a glimpse of a reddish mark near her neck, partially concealed by her collar.

"What's that on your—" he began, gesturing toward his own neck. Shouldn’t her aura already healed that spot?

Neo's silent laughter cut him off, her eyes dancing with amusement at his confusion. She offered him a playful little bow before sauntering past him with deliberate slowness.

Roman scratched his head, utterly baffled. What game was she playing now? Was this another one of her little jokes at his expense? Did she want more money? Or take her to eat ice cream?

Then he noticed it–the slight but unmistakable limp in her gait.

That’s when his brain connected the dots in an instant, and the realization hit him like a punch to the gut that left him without air. All those moments he found them strange or acting weird, ESPECIALLY that call, it all made sense to him.

Roman grabbed his bowler hat and slammed it against the floor with enough force to make the nearby workers flinch. "Oh, that motherfucker!" 

The bile rose in his throat as the full picture became clear. That mangy street cat – that faunus trash he, oh so generously, allowed into their little operation – had put his filthy paws on Neo.

HIS little Neo.

But as quickly as the rage came, Roman forced it down, his knuckles white around Melodic Cudgel. There wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. Neo was her own woman – a deadly, psychopathic woman who made her own choices. If he actually tried to interfere, she'd probably skewer him without a second thought.

He swallowed hard, the bitter taste of powerlessness coating his tongue. No matter how much he despised the thought of that faunus touching her, no matter how much it made his skin crawl, he was helpless to do anything about it.

“I need a drink.”

He should have raised that girl better.

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

AN: And Neo wins again with the lewds, most of this chapter was shortstack segs, as a earned reward for saving her. And then jut having some fun messing with the thief just to see his reaction.