章 144: 46
Chapter 46 - Belladonna Falls
"I think Jaune is going to need a bit more of an explanation," Blake said. The spectral figure floated above her, in some quasi-state of undead and unamused. "Do you mean parasite in terms of my aura? Or just how he makes me do everything for him?"
"Ack-…"
"Both." The doctor, scientist - whatever he was - said.
"Hrk…"
"Though I've been unable to do any significant tests yet it seems obvious that his recent disappearance caused your unusual circumstances." The man paced about the small room. "I had wondered in the past just why he is unable to travel any distance from you, but how this changes if he inhabits a body. The drain on your aura provides both reason and explanation."
"You'll have to explain it for us both."
"Simple my dear, when your undead boyfriend is in his spectral state he does not cause any strain on your aura. This, I believe, is because for all intents and purposes he does not exist. He generates neither sound, heat or light and thus makes use of no energy. This is why you feel no drain as he is now, and why I suggest he stay like that until you have fully recovered your reserves."
"Fine by me… after what just happened I'm not exactly eager to get back into the bear." Blake snickered at that, earning a sarcastic look from him.
"This changes when he inhabits your doll because he moves it, thus making use of and generating kinetic energy. Naturally this cannot come from the atmosphere and without a body of his own, Mr Arc cannot generate any."
"Hence he uses mine."
"Exactly. Whenever he is in that bear he creates a conduit between the two of you… or maybe you create it, I cannot tell. Whatever the case, he uses your energy to interact with the world – and the further he travels from you, the more energy is lost in transfer. Dispersed perhaps as light or heat, or maybe even a sound we cannot hear." The scientist rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming with barely concealed excitement. "When I think about the sheer improbability of two people with such compatible circumstances meeting… it is incredible."
"And you've lost us again…"
"Could you perhaps use layman's terms, sir?"
"Allow me to simplify things then." He said. "You and Mr Arc… if you had not been there when he died. I am not sure there is another person on Remnant who would have been capable of enabling this kind of parasitic attachment."
"Can we veto that word?"
"What do you mean?" Blake ignored Jaune, zeroing in on the piece of information that had eluded her til this point. Why exactly had she been the one to have Jaune? Why could she see him, when others could not?
"Your semblance my dear, is what I believe gives you this ability."
Blake's eyes widened, "My clones? But they don't do anything. It's nothing like this."
"Your clones are constructs of aura that exist outside your body, if only for a time. My studies suggest that the body can be changes in small ways to allow for these semblances, and yours might be one such example. Take your teammate for instance, the fast one." There were plenty of them who could be called that, but she assumed he meant Ruby. "If a normal person tried to move at the speeds she did, their inner organs would be liquefied. Even with aura, her eardrums would rupture, her bones break and her eyes would explode in her skull. That ability would be utterly useless, not to mention impossible to utilise. And yet, I expect were I to take a closer look at the girl I might find subtle differences in bone structure, muscle tissue – even her eyes, which I happily note are a different colour to what is considered normal."
That was true… and it made sense, in a way. Blake had always assumed it was just aura protecting her leader, but there really was no explanation for how she was able to keep her eyes open at such speed. The wind alone should have blinded her.
"And I have something like this?"
"Possibly. It's naught but a hypothesis, but the fact that your clones can exist outside the body for some seconds does indicate that you are capable of intrinsically – and perhaps unconsciously – separating your aura and dispersing it. Your mind has adapted in such a way as to not even notice the strain of pooling aura outside your body, or then losing a chunk of it with the use of a clone."
"And that same ability let's Jaune exist outside my body…"
"So I'm just a clone?" He sounded worried and she repeated his question to the man.
"I doubt a mere clone of Miss Belladonna would have all your memories and thoughts, nor that it would persist this long. No, you are yourself, I believe. It is just that few others could have provided you the vital aura you needed. You are a lucky man… ghost… thing."
"Funnily enough I don't feel like a particularly lucky thing. So I'm guessing the reason why I can move away if I possess a person is because they have their own aura. So I'm not using yours anymore." Blake nodded. It made sense, at least with what little understanding they really had. "Does this also mean I'm killing you?"
"No." She didn't wait for the scientist to answer. She didn't even clue him in on the conversation. "This is an ability I have, something that is my fault if anything. So no, you're not doing me any harm."
"But wouldn't it be safer for you if I wasn't even here?"
"Safer perhaps, but I would not choose that."
"You heard what he said. If I get kidnapped again in the bear, or worse, if I possess someone but then get separated from you… you could end up dying from the aura loss. Is that really worth it?"
"Yes."
"Are you even listening to yourself?"
Blake smirked, "Yes."
"Blake… I'm being serious here. You should ask him if there's some way to pull us apart. Maybe if he finds some kind of aura battery I could just possess that instead."
Blake turned to the scientist watching them. "I think I understand. At least enough… I take it we're going to be doing more tests, to try and get him that body you promised?"
"Blake…"
"As soon as you're better," he shrugged. "The Vytal Festival begins in less than a week. I suppose we'll have to do it during that." That was fine by her. Now if only Jaune would stop frowning down on her while she was trying to hold a conversation.
"Are we done here then?"
"I suppose we are." The Doctor climbed to his feet with a loud crack. "Would you like me to spin a tale for your companions outside?"
Spin a tale? Ah, of course… some kind of excuse for her condition. Well, it would be more realistic if it came from a doctor. She wasn't quite sure how to break the truth to them. Probably best to wait until he has his robot body. That way I have actual proof I can show them. Sure a walking, perverted teddy bear would also be pretty convincing. But it wasn't like they would be able to interact with him in any way.
"Please, if you could." He nodded and waved, stepping out the door and shutting it behind him.
"Is this the part where you actually acknowledge my comments?" Jaune had his arms crossed and didn't look particularly pleased with having been ignored.
"Are you still hung up over that?"
"Am I still hung up over the fact that my parasitic nature might kill you? Gee, maybe!"
"It won't even be a problem so long as we don't get separated again. You heard the man, this is something I can naturally do thanks to my semblance. I don't see why you're so hung up over this."
"Because I could kill you."
"And now you're starting to sound like a broken record."
His lips sealed together angrily. With a huff he looked away. Blake sighed.
"I'm not worried about the risks involved. If this somehow ends up causing my death, then so be it."
"But why…?" He asked.
"Because I'm selfish." Her eyes drifted shut, hoping to avoid the look on his face. "Because I'm selfish and want to keep what I have. I can't believe you're making me say this out loud," she whispered the last bit – too quiet for even him to hear.
"I don't understand."
"Well that's hardly an unusual state of affairs for you, is it?" His eyes narrowed and she cursed her automatic response. She was nervous and that was how she always reacted, by trying to provoke some response that would dispel the tension. "Sorry, I didn't mean that. The thing is…" how could she explain it, without sounding like some kind of idiot? In the end she gave up. Let him think what he would. "When I left the White Fang I lost the only stable figure in my life. Adam was violent and cruel, but that was only ever to his enemies. He was supportive, determined and kind to me… and to some of the others. But I still had to leave when I realised what we had become."
She shook her head. Not now memories, not now… She didn't need that pain.
"When I left I convinced myself that I would be alone forever. That I didn't deserve anyone because of what I'd done, or that no one would accept me as their comrade because they couldn't trust me." He was watching her, listening intently. She could tell. "I thought that would be okay. That as long as I could do some good in the world, I would be alright with that."
"And then RWBY came and proved me wrong. They wouldn't let me drift into my own little corner, they wouldn't let me be alone. They showed me that I could still have friends, that I could still have companions and comrades that I could trust. Now… I don't want to lose any of that now. And if keeping it costs me my life then so be it. I would rather die than be alone."
"Blake…" Jaune sighed. "What bloody relevance does that have to this at all?"
"Ehhh? Wasn't it obvious?"
"You didn't even mention me!"
"Ah… must have forgotten you. In my defence it was a pretty stressful day."
"Stressful!? Y-You…" He shook his head with a growl. "And even if you had mentioned me, you hated me at first – don't think I didn't notice. You were all for getting rid of me!"
"Well you were obnoxious." She shrugged, "Anyone would have wanted to be rid."
"I'd just died! Cut me some slack."
Don't make me say it. She wasn't an emotional person. She wasn't someone who could give grand speeches or speak from the heart. She was a loner; she was anti-social… in some small way she was maybe even a little broken. Don't make me say it.
"But… I suppose I can stick around."
"I suppose I can continue to put up with you."
He understood. Even the things she couldn't or wouldn't say. That was enough for her, and she hoped… she hoped it would be enough for him as well.
Thank you.
Things were finally starting to work out, for what felt like the first time in so long.
"Blake!" The door to the infirmary opened, her three friends pouring in. Even through her exhaustion, more from the emotions than anything else, she managed to smile at them. "How are you?" Yang asked, gripping her hand.
"Better. I'll be fine."
"The Doctor told us all about it," Weiss stepped up to take her other hand. "It's unusual, but I suppose it makes sense given your background."
"It does?" Blake asked. What exactly had he said?
"Yeah," Ruby chirped, "Uh… well you never went to school or anything – so I guess you missed all the early classes and things."
"Definitely," Yang nodded. "So it makes sense you wouldn't have known the risks."
"Y-Yeah…" she didn't dare disagree, even as she desperately tried to figure out what they were talking about. If she contested the explanation, then the jig would be up. "So uh… you know the reason, right?"
Ruby blushed, "Yep. It could be worse. I hear there's loads of nastier diseases you could have picked up."
Wait a minute…
"Don't worry though," Weiss patted her shoulder. "Yang is going to get some text books then we'll all make up for lost time. Learning about safe sex and protection is very important."
Erk…
"I'll even bring a banana for you to try it on," Yang gave a thumb's up.
"Hey look. Karma does exist."
She would kill that damn doctor…
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