Chapter 22: Semper Fidelis

The end of the road for this chapter in the Antics-Verse, ladies and gentlemen. Some of you might find it abrupt, some of you might find it 'too soon', but this is it.

All tales must end.

Some graphic content in this chapter. It's the finale, so let's give it a bang!

Mister Frank's eyes did not change in Jaune's eyes. The rifle was still trained at him, like any good soldier should. It wasn't good that he was here to kill dad, but Jaune could do nothing. He'd get shot the moment he went for his gun. The man's expression did not change as he waited for him to step aside.

"Well?" The darkness of the porch light only cast a shadow on the man's face, his expression like a grim reaper, and Jaune stepped aside. The man had a weapon trained on him, a grim look on his face that seemed to soften for a moment. It was familiar, something that he knew from some people.

"Are you going to kill my dad?"

He had to ask. The man shook his head. The feeling that might be relief flooded his system, a shiver going through his body, something that made him feel better and worse at the same time. Then the man was just here to give a message. That was good. That was understandable.

'It is okay then.'

"I'm just here to give your father something."

A low growl of a voice as the man's blue eyes stood out in the light, Jaune watching. The smell of gunpowder and blood clung to the man, something that wasn't unfamiliar, yet the burning inside his heart continued.

"You okay, son?"

He remembered about the man's family. It was polite to give your condolences. He could hear the argument continue in the background.

"-nazi, mom! A fucking nazi! Fuck me, fuck me! He isn't like you think! We tease him, but we don't treat him any different! A god-damned neo-nazi fucking branded my little brother like an animal!"

That was his oldest sister. She wasn't shy about letting them know what she thought.

"I'm sorry about your family, sir."

The man looked at him, a small smile, perhaps a mere light lifting of the corners of the mouth, presenting itself. Jaune could see it as approval, because those eyes seemed to warm slightly into a mere arctic tundra from the frozen cold hateful hell they were set in.

"Thanks, kid. You've been on my mind. Ain't right to see a kid looking that dead in the eyes."

A pat to his head, the man continuing into the house. Jaune didn't think it was worth much, but it was apparently something. He didn't know.

"He could've said something! My son is not weak! Don't blame your mother for this!"

His father thundered in response to something, and the cacophony continued. He didn't hear Yang's voice added within the vocal mess.

"He just… Oh god, we're fucking shitty sisters."

He heard someone hurling, the shushing from one of his sisters and the soft murmurs, as another voice added to the chorus.

"He could've SAID something? Don't you even know how much a woman can do to someone? Jesus Christ, I would've beat the shit out of that woman for laying a hand on Jaune, and go to fucking jail for it! He's not even good at getting himself out in public, always being thought of as weird! He's got autism, dad! He's not retarded!"

Yang's voice added to the voices. "Well, he thinks he is! Breed the retards! My sister isn't the smartest cookie in the bunch, she's got a lot of things that she isn't good with, but that woman destroyed your brother! He'd die if it would make you happy! Don't you see that?"

More sounds of someone being sick. He knew that some of his sisters didn't like to hear gruesome stuff much. It was a little like the barbecue with Mister Frank, he supposed. The man looked grim. He took a deep breath, motioning for Jaune to keep his spot there. When arguments were flying, Jaune didn't really like to get in there. The shouting was loud and there was something in the air that would make the world a bad place for him to be.

"There's nothing wrong with my son! He's just not good with words! You're his girlfriend, surely you must see something in him!"

His father didn't accept the reality of the world, as someone seemed to spit on the ground.

"Denial isn't HELPING, dad! It isn't. He's not strong like you and he's easy to take advantage of. Why didn't you ask, mom? You're supposed to know! You're supposed to know, goddamnit, how to help people! Even Saphron has more of a connection with him than you, and she doesn't even live here anymore!"

He could understand his sister's line of thought. He was broken and twisted, like an oak tree that had been hit by thunder more than once. It was something terrible and sickening, he knew. He was wrong, but Cinder was the only one that thought that.

"I'd fucking marry your son, but if I'm getting a father in law who doesn't care and a mother who thinks her son could ever do that to a girl, I don't know what to think! You're just like my father, always trying to deny the reality of the world! He sees me as his sun, you dickbag! He gave me gifts, he took me out on a fucking date that was better than my ex's dates where we just ended on making out and giving her pleasure. He's a fucking treasure and- and- Fuck you!"

She sounded mad. He was happy in a way that she'd marry him, but she shouldn't be so upset with his father. It wasn't nice, and his father didn't really believe him all that much, but he was still his father. His mother was nice too, even if she tried her best. Raising children wasn't easy, Miss Salem had said. He moved towards the door, but the man held up a hand.

"Never go in when words are flying still, kid. Wait for things to simmer down, until people are distracted with other things. Emotion makes people jumpy."

It was solid advice. He remembered to sit outside when mom and dad were having an argument. They had argued a lot. Saphron had tried to help a little by making sure that he had games to play. It wasn't nice when they did that.

"IF ONLY HE'D BEEN BORN NORMAL, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED! IT WAS EMBARRASSING!"

There was a hush, as his mother's voice reached a pitch that she only reached when she had enough, and he knew that his mother had reached her limits. He looked down, the older man's hand giving him a supportive pat to the back, his eyes looking at the door that led towards the living room.

"If only he'd been born normal, mom? ARE YOU EVEN FUCKING LISTENING TO YOURSELF? Jesus. Fuck, Jesus. FUCK. Is it so bad that he's autistic? Is it SO bad that he can't even think of himself as human? Why don't you just fucking shoot him and let that nazi woman smile when she hears of it. A mother killing her own son because he's handicapped."

This wasn't heading in a good direction. Mom was getting too emotional again.

"They asked me if he'd been sexually aggressive before, Marble! I had to answer all sorts of questions! They kept on asking me questions about you all, about him. If he'd just been born right, this wouldn't have happened! He could've said something! They might develop a cure!"

'The only cure for Autism is death.'

He could hear his sisters getting ready for another row. His hand moved to the doorknob, but he didn't open it. He needed to hear this. He needed to hear this and he was feeling wetness on his cheeks. The hand on his shoulder slowly rubbed up and down, a supportive manner.

"It's okay, son. It's going to be okay."

It was strange how that made him feel a little better. He felt something inside him, a deep dark and ugly feeling that welled up in his heart, something cold and cruel and pained. Even his mother didn't want him to be born.

"A cure for what, mom? LISTEN TO YOURSELF! LISTEN! He's OUR little brother! He's not any different, even if he's got autism! The only cure he needs is a cure from YOU."

He could hear his father growl.

"He's still my son, woman! He's STILL my son and I won't hear of you curing him. He is how he is and that's okay! None of that Autism mumbo-jumbo humbug! Someone did something bad, okay. He's as he is! Nothing wrong with him!"

There was a snarl.

"Saphron became gay, didn't she? She could've had a future with a nice guy, but noooo, she had to be wrong too! You don't see that, Jack! You just see 'oh, it's my son, it's the boy I took hunting, ain't nothing wrong with him!' I had to go to the appointments! I had to learn how to handle his moods! You just sat there like the sad sack you are, moping about your job! The least you could've done was help out and keep him steady when it was time to strap him in for bed!"

Jaune remembered that. They hadn't done much of that since he was ten. He'd learned not to be a fussy sleeper then. Mom had been relieved, he remembered.

"Mom, I can't believe this! Terra is a nice woman!" His youngest sister spoke up again. She sounded hurt.

"SHE MADE SAPHRON GAY!"

The response was fierce and immediate, as his sisters leapt to Saphron's defense. He didn't quite hear Yang, the door opening up and his girlfriend appeared. Her face darkened when she saw Mister Frank, the man making a gesture for her to remain silent.

"It's an orientation, mom! Saphron isn't trying to get us all in some lesbian orgy, even though her wife may joke about that! She loves us all and she'd hate to hear you speak of her like that!"

Yang closed the door behind her, still keeping her gaze on Mister Frank.

"You're the guy they're looking for on the news, right?"

A nod, as the man's grave face turned serious. Yang nodded in understanding.

"Well, this is just a place of vipers."

Someone threw something, a plate or something shattering against a wall. That was going to be messy, he supposed. More for people to clean up, probably mom. Mom was good with cleaning up stuff.

"I'm just so fucking done with this crap! What's wrong next, mom? Melissa's pot smoking? The fact that I like my dick hard and heavy? What's wrong next? Jaune shouldn't be thinking about death, he should be stretching out my sister in law's pussy like it's teen love and suffer a bit of a heartache if she ever goes away, which doesn't fucking look LIKELY given the sounds that she'd made. Jesus, fuck."

His middle sister was suddenly audible through the silence that followed after that heated exclamation from Marble.

"He just said it like it was the weather. Why, mom? Why? Why would he just say it like that? Why? I don't understand."

It was a softness in his sister's voice, as she seemed to shatter and break. It was a little strange, but she sounded worse off. He'd messed things up again, just like he always did.

"I don't know, honey."

His mother tried to stop his sister from being too emotional. Mom always tried to make things right by shushing the issue. Dad was straight-up, but mom had to be the peacekeeper. He loved his mother.

"He said he was going to- He's not retarded, mom. He's not retarded. He's not retarded and- he's not, no, he's not."

His sister was murmuring in the suddenly quiet room, as people seemed to gather steam for another moment of explosiveness. Mister Frank grabbed the door handle and opened the door, looking at him to get in.

"He's not the only one in the family. The counsellor at college said that I had it too, that it shows differently in girls. We're not supposed to talk too much, so it… It runs in families, mom. I didn't want to worry you, mom. I swear, I didn't want you to think I was wrong too."

Mister Frank entered the living room. There was no real sound except that hush that fell. He followed after the man, noticing that they were all looking at his sister. He smiled. He didn't understand her very much, but she was still his sister. She was better than he was, because she was his sister.

"You're my big sister. That makes you better than me. Mom is proud of you at least. You graduated with top marks. I don't get that. I'm still bad at the thing with the circles."

She looked up at him, her hand brushing through her hair, stiffening when she saw Mister Frank with his weapon aimed at them. All of them looked in his direction. Mister Frank's rifle was still aimed at the direction of the table, the man not having spoken up yet.

"We need to talk, Jack. I'm here to deliver a message."

The dinner table was a mess. One of his sisters had thrown up and was currently trying to mop it up, her kneeling form looking up at the armed man.

The look in his mother's eyes was dark and without much empathy for him. He knew that look. She was angry again.

"Get out of my home, Frank Castle! You're a wanted man, and-"

The man's rifle was raised, his father's eyes holding a look that warned his wife, a hand on his wife's arm, stopping her from doing anything too quickly.

"Simmer down, honey. He would've shot us if we'd done something. Let's not make this into another Dribai Village, Frank. The kids don't need to know what we did."

The hard-bitten look on the other man's face didn't change, as his father got protectively in front of his mother, Mister Frank merely staring at his father before motioning for the seat. The gesture was obvious. Jaune took his seat again, Yang sitting down too. His sister got into her seat again, knowing the gesture meant that she should sit down too.

"The kid looked dead when I saw him, Jack. He was going through the motions, just functioning but not thinking. Kid might've been one of those shooters, if he'd had a bad bone in him. It would've been Dribai, Jack. I know you've trained him to be able to pick off people with a good gun from a distance. You were great, back in the day."

The look on his father's face was dark, as the man sighed.

"It isn't easy raising a kid like that, Frank. Can you… put it down? You're scaring the wife. And the kids."

The Marine Captain didn't flinch, shaking his head. There was a decisiveness in those eyes, as the man looked into his former platoon member's eyes, something hard and pitiless, those eyes having seen much.

"Things aren't going that way, Jack. I'm here to give punishment to the people who did some fucked up shit. You messed up, Jack. You dropped the ball. It's just like Dribai."

He saw his father's expression change, one of defeated acceptance. Dad shouldn't look like that, he still was alive, after all. That meant you were strong.

"We shouldn't have survived that, Frank. We shouldn't have survived that, and- God, has it really been that long?"

A soft sigh, the man's eyes marginally softer now, as the look didn't change much. It was steady, as his father just leaned onto the table. Jaune's eyes caught the potatoes mashed against one of the wall, the shattered plate below it.

"We did. A lot of good men died that day. Lot more of the bad guys."

His father looked a little sad, as far as Jaune could see. Mister Frank reached into his pocket with his hand, the rifle momentarily let go. He pulled out a disk that'd been put in a see-through plastic bag.

"It's not the only copy. Consider this a favour to you, Jack. Check what's on the disk, but don't let the kids see it. It's a Black disk. You know what to do with that. Hand it over in the morning, if you make a copy of it… I don't know of it."

The disk was handed to his sister, the sister passing it along, towards their father. The man looked at it and then back at Mister Frank. His father gave a short nod. It was understood, it seemed.

"Jaune, we're… You should've told us something, if we'd been able to help, we would've."

Constance said, her eyes looking at him with that expressiveness that he knew was real. She looked like that when she watched her soaps. He knew that she was a great sister, because she was his sister and she was pure.

"I don't understand. Mom wouldn't believe me. Nobody believed me. Boys do that kind of thing. We're bad, because we want to rape girls. Why should I tell something if nobody believes me?"

It was logical. Things made more sense when you were of sane mind. Mens Rea, Mens… Sana? He never remembered how that went. He was bad in the mind though. Yang didn't mind that.

"We would've at least tried to find out the truth, Jaune. Even if mom thinks you're lying, fuck, we're not going to let someone lay a hand on any of us! That includes you, Jaune."

It was nice to hear, and Yang squeezed his thigh. She was nice and friendly. He was kind of hungry though. He hadn't started on dinner yet, it was going cold.

"She might hurt you too. She's part of the good people who will make this world better, you know? People like me will just be ash afterwards."

It was sensible to remind her of that. Nobody really believed him. They'd said that it was because he was a boy, that he lusted after a 'nice hot piece of ass like Cinder Fall'. Cinder wasn't that good-looking, really. He preferred his girls with somewhat paler hair. Summer was nice though. She cared for her daughters.

"He can just say it like it's the weather, Connie. She hurt our little brother. He's just saying it like it's normal. Oh my god. Oh my god. What would've happened if it was me."

That was a simple question. He smiled. "You'd be given a baby by someone pure. You're going to make more babies for the war with the impure people. It's your fate. That's what the pure people do."

His sister hugged her knees as she pulled them up, whimpering softly and starting to slowly sway back and forth. Most of his sisters' expressions were just strange. They looked at him and just stared. He didn't really understand that. Even Yang was just gaping at him with her mouth half-open and her eyes just staring at him.

"I'm not suitable. Maybe dad. He's fought for us, in the Marines, dad's proven his valour. Cinder said that bloodlines are strong and that I'd give her strong heirs. I think you should choose, though. You're my sister. I'd like you to be happy, even if you're pregnant."

His sisters just looked really forlornly at him. He'd explained things. His mother and father looked bone-white in the face and Yang looked queasy. Mister Frank's expression didn't change much. It was his eyes that turned colder.

"What? Did I get it wrong?"

He was sure that was what Cinder had said. His sisters just stared at him, looking like he'd said something wrong. He frowned.

"I'm sorry."

Yang's hand squeezed his own. She tried to smile, but her eyes were really sad. She shouldn't feel sad for him. Cinder might be wrong. Maybe?

"No, it's… Good, Jaune."

She was crying. Tears looked like pearls as they leaked down her cheeks. She swallowed heavily, looking into his eyes.

"You love your sisters."

He nodded. He smiled at her. She was his girlfriend and she made the world make sense. He heard one of his sisters give a slow exhale. She sounded soft and tender, her voice broken in a way that was emotional. Tears were coming from her eyes.

"Is this what you wanted, mom? Is this what you want? He's so broken, mom. He's so broken and it hurts. I thought he was just quiet, but… Oh god, oh my fucking god. Mom, what have you done?"

He felt someone hug him from behind, his oldest sister.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. Don't say that. Don't say that anymore, little brother."

He didn't understand at all. It was what was supposed to happen, right? Yang hugged him really tightly. She smelled good.

"Mom? Answer me, mom. Is this what you wanted? Is this why the psychologist had to take a break on holiday due to personal reasons? MOM?!"

One of his sisters was angry. His mother spluttered something before she gathered herself.

"She said it was needed after a heavy case, that she'd pick up his case after some careful review! It happens! Sexual abuse ca-"

He could probably hear a pin drop, as someone moaned in a bad, gutwrenching way. It was his dad and he looked hurt. That was strange, because he hadn't been hurt. Probably.

"Woman, when a psychologist tells you she needs a break from seeing her client, it's serious. I thought she just went on a holiday to Ibiza! You never said anything to me about it being one of those weird things that happened to Jaune!"

His dad was wrong. Miss Salem was coming back after the holiday and he'd have more sessions. She'd said so, because she wanted to help him.

"Cinder just kicked me with a boot between my legs whenever I reacted to her. I'm not really worthy of life in her eyes, so she tried to end it. It burns a little when I go to the bathroom on some days."

Mister Frank was calm, he noticed. The man had lowered the rifle, looking at the going-ons. His family was so emotional. It hurt just a little bit, and it wasn't even the burning pain after she'd corrected his behaviour. She'd been his friend, he knew, or so it had to have been.

"Why didn't you tell me then?! I'm still your mother!"

He looked at her. They hadn't believed him. Why should he be believed by her when she'd already not believed him. She'd tell him he was lying. It was bad to lie.

"Why should you believe me? You said that it was all a mistake. I'd done it because I was autistic."

If there was ever a murderous gaze, he could see it in his sisters' eyes. Constance was just about done with mom's side of things, but it wasn't her who spoke up.

"I've got no words. I've got no fucking words for this kind of bullshit. Mom, for Christ's sake! You were concerned when Constance was smacked around, but not when your only son is? Fuck, fuck. Fuck! You're lucky that he's a nice boy, mom. Fuck, I would have murdered you for letting that happen. No regrets either."

She slammed the table. Several sisters jumped a little at the sound. Marble looked really upset.

"Jesus Christ. Jesus f'ing Christ. Mom, you were supposed to protect us. Why could you let people just do that to Jaune and not even think he was innocent? You failed to protect your only fucking son, mom. Saphron would fight for Jaune, just like she'd fight for her wife's kid!"

His mother just stared. She looked at him, but wasn't seeing him. She just gave him that look that she sometimes did, sort of sad, but not quite sad.

"But he's autistic. How is he supposed to know what is appropriate or not? The girl Ruby too, she's like him. Who is to say that they haven't done anything together?"

It was Yang who spoke up, her hand squeezing him, trying to keep herself under control.

"Ruby's gay, for one. For two… She might want to try it, but she doesn't have it in her. Serious talk though: You don't deserve a son like him."

Yang took a deep breath, giving him a smile, turning to his mother and fixing her with a fierce look.

"He loves you all so much he'd rather die than hurt you. That's my boyfriend I'm talking about. Fuck, hell, I don't even care anymore. I don't give a rat's ass what you think of me. Jaune, you're moving in with me and mom, I'm not letting you stay with these people anymore."

He didn't think his mother would like that. She said that it wouldn't be meat loaf Monday if too many moved out.

"But what about school?"

That was important. After the summer holidays, they'd be back in school. That was not going to be great. People still didn't like him much. He hoped that Ren and Nora would be happy together. They'd gone to Nora's home country.

"Hey, we'll carpool or something. We're all in the same gig together. I'm not going to let my boyfriend suffer in a place where he's obviously not wanted."

His sisters looked heated up too by Yang's words, angrier than before. They looked angry, irritated and frustrated. His mother looked really sad.

"I just wanted him to be accepted. You wouldn't have been able to handle it, not after what happened to Constance."

Constance made a sound in the back of her throat. "Not have been able to handle it? Not be able to handle it? Fuck, mom. This is a little bit worse than a fucking broken face and a hospital stay, okay? LOOK AT HER! Mel is just rocking. DO YOU WANT THAT FOR YOUR CHILDREN, HUH? We're going to need fucking therapy after this, at the LEAST. And he can just fucking SAY IT LIKE IT IS NORMAL. HE FUCKING SAID THAT! MOM. THAT. IS. SO. WRONG!"

Tears leaked from her eyes as her voice raised to a pitch that hurt his ears. Melissa hugged him even tighter. She was whispering something in his ear about him not believing anything that the woman said, because he was a good boy. It felt nice and warm, and his girlfriend hugged him as well.

"We can get him therapy! We can all get therapy and we'll be okay again. Just like with your father, he'll be okay."

Someone slammed the table. His youngest sister spoke up.

"Dad choking you out and me having to resuscitate you wasn't FUN, mom. You're lucky that I was still up or you'd be dead! Even dad saw that he needed his medication after that, and now you do this to us? Holy shit, are you delusional? Mom, please."

There was anger in his sister's voice, as her eyes seemed to blaze with that indignant fury.

"I've had enough! I'm moving out first thing in the morning. I'm not going to live in a home where my little brother's just treated wrongly because there's something wrong with him. There isn't. This isn't the fifties, mom. And that thing about his bed-time thing, what did you mean with 'strapping him in'. That sounds like- oh fucking hell, I'm not trusting you on anything anymore. Jaune, what was that bedtime thing."

Oh, the straps.

"Oh, it was to keep me from being too fussy. One around the chest. I shouldn't move too much during the night, so she strapped me in. It hurt a little, but it was for my own safety. I'd hurt myself. It'd been pedagogically approved."

She'd said so, after all. It'd been advice from the folder for fussy children.

"Christ. Seriously, mom. I'm not- Gods, that you'd do that to a child. A child, mom."

His father looked serious. That was good, he guessed.

"He didn't grow up any different from you girls. He's a good lad."

Mister Frank leaned against the table. It'd been nearly fourteen minutes since they'd started to get together and talk, well, more like shout at each other. His sisters were acting emotionally. He pulled himself out of his girlfriend and sister's hug, walking over to his sister who was still rocking.

An accusation was flung at his father for being too closed-minded. He rubbed over his sister's back. She looked up.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry."

Apologizing would work. Probably. He had to try. She was crying. That wasn't good.

"It's okay, Jaune. Thank you for asking."

He rubbed her back some more, knowing the spot that she liked. He was trying to be a good brother.

"Kid, get up. We're going. Time's wasting. Xiao-Long, get up."

People seemed to realize that there was another person at the table. His father's face turned dark, but he didn't say a word.

"You're not taking my son, Frank Castle."

The youngest of his sisters made a mocking sound.

"Great, now you're becoming a mom. Great job, Mom. When things get tough, you're fucking gone."

He didn't think Mister Frank was going to hurt him or Yang. There was that understanding, that look in his eyes, that feeling of sameness that he had.

"Watch the disk with your family, Jack. It's time for me to go."

He got up, his sister looking at him. His father's expression didn't change much, set in that grimness that held no thought on his face. It was perhaps one of his father's peculiarities, but he didn't question the man. His sisters looked fearful, but mostly angry. They were angry at mom for not doing what she had done.

"I love you all. You're the best family I could want. I'll be back." He knew, somehow that he would be.

He gave a thumbs-up, just like in the movie. His sisters looked at him, and he watched mister Frank turn around, dismissing him as a threat, showing his back to him. Yang wrapped her arm around him, giving him the support he needed. Mister Frank was already half-way towards the door. Yang turned her head and gave his mother the middle finger. She hugged him a little tighter to him.

Mister Frank waited for a moment before he exited, checking out the window for anything that was unusual. Not a bad thing, he supposed. Yang watched as the man moved, the long coat that he wore fitting him perfectly. Her skull-print shirt looked nice on her. He hoped that they could eat something. He was getting hungry.

The van was painted black, the large vehicle looking fairly nondescript, the side-door opened for them to get in. The man trusted them, Jaune could see it, as he got behind the steering wheel, a look at Yang for a moment, before the man returned his gaze to the road and the engine rumbled to life.

The van smelled of smoke and gunpowder, and Jaune could see several racks on the walls, filled with armaments. It was impressive, as he sat down in one of the seats, Yang climbing into the passenger seat. He could see the bulge of the gun, but the man seemed unworried about it, though he knew that the man had noticed him carrying one.

You didn't miss simple stuff like that. It wasn't something that he'd imagine the man to ever miss. He was smart, after all.

"So, what's the plan? Are you here to bring us somewhere remote and then kill us?"

Yang spoke up, the man's attention going to the rear-view mirror for a moment, checking the traffic as they moved through the dark city. Streetlights were on, casting shade on Yang as she sat there, looking like she wished to fight for him. It was a nice thought, Yang fighting for him and his rights.

"No. You're not guilty."

He wondered about that. They were guilty of possessing firearms. It wasn't going to be something that they could easily get rid of, especially since they were military guns. There was a rule for that, he thought.

"Then what's the plan, big guy? You scared the dad of my boyfriend there. You don't look like that if you're just here for a visit, and you've murdered people…"

The man's attention went to the road again, the man's silence lasting for a minute. It was the voice of a man who was like him that spoke.

"Every time I put one of the scum of this world down into the grave, I can see them. I feel the kick of my weapon, the thunder of every shot I take. My son's mouth, open, the bullet wound going right through his skull, taking his life."

A tired, weary sound, something that was like an exhale but worse. The man's eyes seemed grim. "I feel a moment of peace then. A moment between giving the trigger a loving caress, seeing my wife's smile once more before she's falling to the ground with her chest blossoming red, my daughter's scream still in the air. I see her guts coming out, wriggling and writhing. She'll die with a scared look on her face, never knowing why everything hurts."

He felt similar to the man. Something in that voice told him that if he let go, he could be like that. He smiled. Yang looked at him and her eyes looked scared.

"The recoil kicks me awake again to face the next person. A world full of scum. Criminals. Thieves. People who haven't done anything, but corrupt the world around them through their loans and their bribery."

A bitter look, one of anger. The man looked at him and he understood.

"Sick people who would sell you off for kicks, to sniff your dead body for their sick pleasure. Neo-nazi scum, thinking they are safe because they know a guy…"

A grim look, a bitter one, as the man looked at Yang. She looked a little afraid. He hoped that she wouldn't be. She didn't deserve to be afraid.

"Wiseguys who think they're the top-dog on their corner, smacking their girls so they'll make the bottom line. Every time I just feel a moment of peace, a moment where I can be just safe…"

The man's face was solid, and he could understand. "They come again. And they won't stop coming, and they won't stop hurting. Every time I stop to think 'will this be enough', there will be some goombah thinking it's good to kill the big boss and my daughter's innards spill over the grass. It has been six days. Six days, eight hours and seven minutes."

Yang was silent, as she looked down. The man was silent too, as he drove along. They were driving out of the city, to a different area. They abandoned civilization, leaving the world that he knew behind.

"I'm sorry."

Yang spoke up, the man looking at her for a moment. There was an oddness to his gaze, a warmth that was somehow strange. A gritting of the teeth.

"They need to be punished. I have made my decision."

He pulled up to a large parking space that'd been cleared, which led towards one of the large recreational stretches of the forest outside of the city. The man got out of the car, his rifle slung over a shoulder, getting a large duffel bag out of the car. Jaune recognized it as one of the military-issue ones.

"We've got a bit of a walk to do."

He was still hungry. He hoped that there was a ration bar or something to eat.

The man's grim look was on his face, as he started to walk towards a single floodlight that'd been set up in the distance, a silhouette that he recognized. Industrial floodlight, where a large space had been cleared. Tire tracks had been left in the trail that led up, visible there. He could see a car standing there, and someone moved.

"Castle?"

'Oh, that's Summer.'

A grunt, as someone flicked a switch and he caught sight of one of those industrial lights that was being flicked on, illuminating a large stretch of the space in front of it. Summer's special car stood there, and he noticed that someone had been put in the passenger seat.

Chains and other such things including duct tape bound Cinder fall to the car, as Summer near-skipped up towards the military man, giving Mister Frank a grin that wasn't wholly sane, the rifle in her grip having been pointed away, but not fully so that she couldn't respond properly.

"Krauty didn't really like her meal, so I had to force it down her throat. She's been a moody girl ever since she's arrived here."

He could see that Cinder Fall's face looked bruised, golden eyes gazing at him with that look of disdain and something he couldn't quite place. She wore a simple dress, something that'd apparently been forced on her, some of her limbs looking like they'd been broken. A bruise was growing on her skin above the collarbone, as Summer moved over to him.

"You got with Yang! I'm so happy!"

The woman seemed genuine in her happiness, even as Yang's eyes dimmed a little. Summer hugged her adopted daughter, giving a deep sigh as she did. Summer's eyes looked a little worried, as Cinder started to moan something, a muffled sound that seemed to linger, angry eyes looking at him.

"See this, you nazi bitch? I got your man, you crazy tart! Guess who's getting some Aryan babies pumped into her on the regular, yeah? Me. Fuck you. I want to beat his mom's record and get nine. A whole fucking soccer team."

He coughed. That just wasn't right.

"Soccer has eleven players."

Yang looked a little awkward, as Summer gave a soft laugh.

"He's got you there, honey."

Yang turned her gaze back to Cinder.

"See, you little Hitler whore? Eleven kids! Don't touch my fucking guy."

Mister Frank was already moving to the car, leaning over. Cinder was trying to lean away, but was securely locked in the seat, strapped in so tight that she could hardly move. He didn't fear her, for some reason. The duct tape was ripped from her mouth.

"You'll never find love, Jaune! She'll find some low-bred mutt to fuck, rather than your broken, inferior body! You are nothing!"

The man shook his head, motioning for him to come closer. He came closer. Cinder couldn't hurt him. Summer was here. Mister Frank was here. Cinder was struggling, cussing at Mister Frank for what he'd done. She'd slipped into German, or perhaps Austrian. It didn't really matter, because she gave him her attention when he came close to her.

"I love her. When we have sex, it's like we fit together. I'll give her an orgasm, eventually. She'll have my babies. I don't like you and I don't think you're nice anymore. I don't think of you as a friend anymore."

He said it and the woman started to cuss at him in German, as if he could understand her. Duct tape was put in place again to shut her up. Mister Frank motioned for him to go back to Summer, getting a jerry can out of the boot of the car. The jerry can was unscrewed and the liquid within poured over the back of the car. It smelled like petrol or gasoline. Probably gasoline. It wasn't Diesel. That wasn't combustible. The car wasn't built to run on Diesel.

Cinder started to really struggle the moment she smelled it though. Summer's smile turned radiant as she did, watching how the woman was doused with the fluid. She let go of Yang and hugged him, giving him a squeeze.

"She was not a great girl, y'know. Hurting a poor fellow like you. I love you, Jaune."

It was true, he could tell. He didn't love her like that, but there was something that might be it for her. It wasn't something that you could say aloud.

"I don't love you like I love Yang."

Yang looked away from him. Summer nodded, her expression not shifting much, yet her eyes speaking a story that she did not voice.. It was understanding, acceptance. She understood perfectly now what was wrong. The smile lasted for a moment, as she looked at Yang.

"She read my diary. She confessed to it earlier, and… And I've been lying to myself for too long."

She hugged him even tighter, pulling Yang into the embrace. The sound of a jerry can hitting the ground was loud, as another was unscrewed. Cinder's moaning and frightened sounds were getting louder. The smell of gasoline was getting stronger too. He didn't quite know what was up with that.

"Mom and my biological mom were… They were a thing, Jaune. Raven only married my dad because they wanted a baby, but they never quite told him. That whole Don't Ask thing, she's…"

Summer looked sad, as she gave a soft whisper, her eyes looking at him. "I'm sorry, I abused you and I didn't-"

It was okay. Of course it was okay. He had met Yang like she was, because of Summer.

"You're my girlfriend's mother and my best friend's mother. Jesus said that you should forgive. I think it was Jesus. Some guy. You taught me how to make love to Yang. I'll give her an orgasm next time. She's my girlfriend and I love her."

The sweet smile on Summer's lips, as she tapped his nose.

"You better, mister. I'm not going to wait until I'm ninety before my daughter's popping out a grandbaby. I want to have more kids to spoil."

An embarrassed 'Mom!' came from Yang, who looked flushed for some strange reason. Frank Castle cleared his throat, standing there next to the car. Cinder Fall's hair was plastered to her skin and it smelled really badly of fuel. The man looked at him and then directed a sharp look to Cinder.

"You go where you belong, Fall."

Cinder struggled, the man producing a zippo lighter. It made sense. Cinder had said that those who were defect went up in ashes. He held out his hand. The man dropped the lighter into his palm, wordlessly. Jaune's eyes met Cinder's. Fear, terror and something that he couldn't quite place.

He'd better tell her.

He walked up to the car. She was trying to get loose but the bindings had been looped twice, making sure that she couldn't move a muscle.

"This is what happens to those who aren't pure, Cinder. My girlfriend is pure. All the mentally deficient and broken people who are not pure, need to be turned into ashes. You said it yourself. Blonde hair and blue eyes. Goodbye, Cinder. You weren't Aryan enough."

He felt something that might be joy, something dark and unpleasant, as she tried to struggle, shaking her head, her eyes tearing up. He walked back and then flicked open the zippo lighter. He knelt and it clicked open, the spark hitting the fumes.

He watched, as he could see the flames blooming like a brilliant flame, Cinder's body catching fire. Yang's arm wrapped around him as he could see Cinder struggle, watching how she tried to wrench herself free, the hair catching fire, as her body started to burn, the whole car starting to burn as well. They took a few steps back, just in case. The duct-tape melted and she shrieked once, the shriek dying on her lips, as her body jerked a few more times.

Her lungs had inhaled super-heated gases, he knew. It never really was the burns that killed you, but rather the internal damage. The vapours that she'd inhaled must've just seared right through her nose and into her lungs with every breath.

"I'm here to watch you burn, Fall."

Yang's voice was oddly soothing, as he could feel that anger from her. He looked at the lighter in his hands, seeing the Marine corps emblem on it.

"Keep it, kid. Consider it a souvenir."

It was a souvenir indeed, he knew. He watched Cinder burn. She had said it would happen to the broken ones, and it happened to her. This made sense to him.

"You can't mention this to anyone, alright? This is so illegal that it'd make the national headlines without a doubt."

It was a soft chastisement of him, he knew. He wouldn't tell. Cinder had said that he shouldn't tell, and this was also something he shouldn't tell.

"We'll keep the secret."

Yang said, looking at the car. A pinging, and then an explosion happened. Summer sighed, shaking her head.

"There went the gas tank… Ah well, at least I've still got my other car."

It was amusing, somehow. Yang started to laugh. The light from the floodlight that hit the car illuminated it. He watched carefully how the body just continued to burn, some other accelerant undoubtedly used.

He was the first that noticed the lit cigarette coming closer, the smell of petrol still in the air. He watched as someone threw the cigarette away, stomping on it, before lighting a new one. Aged features, sans sunglasses this time. Dark hair, as someone cleared their throat.

'It's Agent Orange.'

She was one of dad's friends, he knew. They were hunting Mister Frank. He nudged Summer, who turned her head. Mister Frank raised his weapon,

Summer was the first to respond, Yang giving a squeak that sounded remarkably womanly as she was let go of, Summer in motion, leaping at the woman. The cigarette hung in the air for a moment before it dropped.

"Oh fuck, you're not doing me like th- ERghk!"

The two went down in a tangle of limbs, someone giving a squeal that was loud enough, as he helped Yang up. Mister Frank watched with a look in his eyes, a frown on his face, as someone switched on one of those big broad-beam flashlights.

"Yo. I'd normally say 'CIA, put your illegal stuff away and get fucked by the law', but the boss lady is currently on her back getting-"

A glance at the two women, the one on the ground being currently kissed like she was dying. Summer seemed to be much more passionate than the woman, who was resisting.

"her throat explored by her girlfriend. I'd say 'good job', but hey, I don't make that much yet. Melinda Vernal, CIA Special Task force, at yer service."

There was an almost sheepish look on the woman's face in the glare of the lightbeam, as Summer came up for air.

"You're alive. You're alive, Rae Rae."

Yang looked stunned. He supposed he would be too. The woman currently trying to get breathing back in working order coughed.

"Get off of me, Summer. I've had it with your over-enthusiastic hugs. Let me go."

There was an annoyed tone to the woman's voice, but there was no heat in the words.

Summer rubbed her cheek against her… girlfriend? Was this a girlfriend or was this a zombie? He hoped that she wasn't a zombie. That would be bad.

"Nope. You're not going. Not going away again! I missed you. I thought you were dead."

The look on the woman's face was grave, as she sighed.

"I had to, Sum. They asked me for the stuff that you can't write home about. It was all planned. Anything for you. Anything."

A tenderness in Summer's expression, as the woman called Melinda gave a soft sound of amusement in the back of her throat.

"Well, I guess we can close the case of Emerald Sustrai's disappearance as well. Forensics found her body buried in the cellar. Lil' Miss Fall's stalker ran into some trouble with Miss Fall… Ain't so good, I reckon. The woman murdered her close to three months ago, so… Yeah. She'd probably have gotten outed as a murderer, if she'd not been dealt with like this."

Summer and Raven were talking in quiet tones, and he hugged Yang. It was comfort. Behind them, the car's tires popped. Yang leaned against him, just looking at her mother. She was silent, even as the dark-haired women talked, Melinda looking a little awkward.

"I'll head out first. Take care, Rose. Thanks for calling my attention to a piece of scum that'd breathed air for too long." The man took the bag and then put it in front of him. "Get this as a bit of a going-away present, kid. Use it to do something good in the world, rather than to make sure that it's spent on someone's addiction."

His stomach growled at that moment in time and he gave a sheepish smile.

"I think I need something to eat. I missed dinner."

Yang laughed suddenly at that, the man merely nodding at the comment as he walked off into the darkness of the night, to fight the fight against the scum of the world elsewhere. He glanced back at the car. Cinder's body was still burning. Some of the flames were starting to die out at the back though.

"No barbecue, Jaune. I don't think I'd be able to stomach eating anything that's been flame-seared." That was fine. He could go for a burger. Those were fried, most of the time. Unless of course, they were grilled. He wouldn't mind a grilled burger.

"He'll want a burger and fries."

Summer commented, Jaune giving her a look of appreciation. "Yeah, that's what I thought, you little munchkin. Love my daughter a lot, right? Better feed her good. Rae? We should go and get out of here. We have so much to talk about."

A sigh, as the woman pulled her phone out of her pocket. It was the same model as Summer's. Summer pulled hers out of her own pocket.

"I didn't forget, Summer. I always keep it close to me."

It was sweet. He hoped that he could have something with Yang like that too.

"Mom?"

Both women looked at Yang, Raven getting up slowly, Summer barely stopping her. It was a look on Raven's face that was sad, he could see the dye that'd been washed out of the woman's hair in the faint illumination.

"Hey there, Cockatiel. I'm sorry that I was gone for so long."

The woman's eyes looked genuinely remorseful, as Summer smacked her best friend… well, probably girlfriend/wife/partner, if he was being critical, against her cheek. There was something in those eyes that seemed to slowly mend in some fraction of the way. A softer exhale that he'd imagined, as Summer looked at her daughter, her adoptive daughter.

"Cockatiel is a shitty name. Summer told me it was Christina."

A faint smile, as Summer nudged her partner. "Told you she'd notice. Stupid bird-brain, you just had to make everything about your tribe and stuff, huh? When we get to the bedroom, I'm going to give you a refresher course in what it's like to be Summer's bitch."

Mister Frank had left by now, leaving the five of them standing near the car. Jaune looked at the bag that'd been set down and opened it.

'That's a lot of money.'

It could be enough to send him to college. It was probably enough to buy him a nice apartment, if he had to guess. If every bundle had a set amount of bills, this was a lot of money. It seemed to be from bad people, though, but money wasn't bad, he guessed. It didn't have the capacity to think.

"Mom, why? How can you just…"

Summer looked at her daughter, her expression softening. A look in those eyes that was maternal and caring, as Summer Rose gave her a look. Melinda switched the flashlight to her other hand, giving a somewhat annoyed look at her boss.

"It's a thing, Yang. You just feel it, when you're with that special person that makes life worth it. If I didn't have you or your little sister… What happened to Ruby, sweetheart?"

A plea, some desire for information, as Raven cleared her throat. Yang looked uncomfortable, looking sad. She had failed her little sister and Ruby was probably on her way to heaven now. Hopefully, they'd done it quickly.

"Child Protective Services has her in custody… or well, they will until the Schnee girl's lawyers tear them to shreds for insufficient evidence. They jumped the gun a bit too hastily there, undoubtedly helped by their usual style of 'underpaid and overworked'. Don't worry, she'll probably be released after… 48 hours or so, just a bit frazzled and…"

A look came on Raven's face, as she looked at Yang. "Nothing like what happened to you, little Cockatiel. I cracked down on that stuff hard, when I heard that Taiyang had been neglectful. That shitbird got some prison justice for what he did. Nobody's fondling my daughter when I'm still around."

Yang smiled, a brittle smile. He gave her a little push, towards her mother. "It's good. It's all good, Yang. I'm…"The woman looked up at the clear sky, the heavens as empty of clouds, the flames still smouldering, even as the smell of cooked meat hung in the air. He was getting really hungry.

"I'm going to be there for you and Ruby. The Agency doesn't need me that much anymore, and- And I've earned a little break. Fifteen and a half years of service…" A deep sigh, as the woman hugged her.

"Taiyang's woman is a nuisance. I knew she'd probably… Mel, get to the fucking car, you lazy half-hobo tramp. We're going for burgers with the son in law and my daughter. Castle killed Cinder Fall because she'd been a child killer and a neo-nazi, and that's the official story, got it?"

The woman gave a salute, looking at her superior, who gave a wicked grin.

"They fucking owe me so much. If it wasn't for that whole fuck-up in Mare du lac, I'd be… Ah well, I'll worry about that later. Summer, we gotta get the kids fed. Let's get a soda like we used to, sweetheart."

Summer smiled, giving her friend and apparently girlfriend/lover a squeeze. That was okay though.

As they sat in the car that Melinda drove, he saw the entangled hands of Summer and Yang's mom, the tender look in their eyes more at ease than anything. Things were making sense now.

"Can I call my mom and dad? I'd like to let them know I'm okay."

Yang handed him her phone, looking at him with a look in her eyes. The fact that the smoke from the cigarettes hung in the car didn't really stop him much. He caught sight of Raven just giving her partner a nearly chaste kiss on her cheek, which Summer turned into something a little more intimate.

"Hello, this is the Arc residence. Hey, I'm eh…" He cleared his throat. It was important to make sure that you were heard.

"Hi Melissa. I'm coming home after we've had a burger. I just wanted to call to let you know that I wasn't killed or anything." A shuddering sigh, and his sister sounded a little heavier.

"Jaune, when you get home, we need to have a talk. That woman… fuck, fuck. He tore off her fingernails, Jaune. She sang like Tweety, but he still did it. Dad's… Dad's angry, Jaune. Mom didn't tell him a thing, other than that it was all humbug. He blames himself too, and- And several of us are moving out."

His sister took a deep breath, continuing again.

"We can't do it anymore, Jaune. Not now, not after what mom said. We've got some money and are probably going to get a flat somewhere, I don't know, but-"

He had money. Mister Frank said that it should be put for a good cause. His sisters were a good cause.

"Mister Frank said that punishment has been given to her."

He shouldn't tell his sister what had happened. A sigh of what seemed to be relief.

"Good, if… If she's dead, perhaps… Jaune, come home, okay? Mom is beside herself with worry, surprising, but still."

He was hungry. He looked at the phone. Should he ask them to drive him home.

"He's got a date with me to go on first, lady. We're getting some food, and then we'll be back. Mom's back again and-"

Raven gave a shake of the head. "and we're going to go to dad after a bit. Summer's not happy with how things went whilst she was away. It's going to be some Summer antics again, I reckon."

A smile, as he looked at his girlfriend.

"I love you."

She smiled at him sweetly. "Yeah, me too. Big juicy burger, great boyfriend, Mom's back…" A look at Summer, who was giving her an encouraging look. Yang's mother looked irritable.

"Yeah, this summer's going to be great."

He sighed, knowing that it was now over. This chapter of his life was closing.

"I'll be home in an hour or so, maybe a bit more."

His sister could worry all she wanted, but he was hungry. He'd eat them if this continued.

"See ya, Jaune. Marble looks like she wants to take another swing at mom again, I better stop her."

That was unusual. He'd have to ask whether mom was okay, but first, he needed food.

"So, who's up for a family barbecue tomorrow, huh? Rae has to go to work, but I figured that we'd go to celebrate getting rid of one wicked bitch of the east, and-"

Yang made a face. "The last time I was at a barbecue with you, the meat turned into cinder and charcoal. We're letting him man the grill after dad leaves with his wife."

He looked stoically at Summer. He wouldn't let the meat burn. Cows shouldn't go up in ashes.

"I'll make sure that it doesn't look too much like Cinder does. I don't think she's too edible anymore."

It was a snort from Raven that did it, as Yang laughed at the words he used. Summer merely shook her head and the Melinda woman made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat.

"Let me take you out on a date next. It was your turn last time."

She was still his girlfriend.

Her smile made the world just a little brighter, even though it was night-time.

"I'd love to. We should go shop again. I want to find something to make my boyfriend happy."

A smile on his own lips, as she hugged him. Warmth and affection mingled inside him, as he felt the burning inside slowly fade, as she kissed his neck.

'Love feels amazing.'

The end.

Dedicated to my friend and member of the Marines, Devin. This is for you, friend.

Semper Fi.

Now, the big question: Will this story get a sequel? Maybe. It's not a universe that I'm done with. We've got things yet unsolved. NPR's reactions. Weiss and Ruby. Blake's healing trip to therapy. Miss Salem and her sessions. I'd imagine she'd like to catch up.

I've toyed with the idea of an alternate-universe take on Summer Antics as well.

Down Fall/Der Untergang.

Cinder Fall never asked. Only after the fact did she hear from his mouth the horrible truth of how he was. Follow Cinder Fall on her road towards reconciliation as she wrestles with the truth that she has fallen for something that goes against every tenet of her beliefs. She has fallen for the Untermensch.

A Neo Nazi's path towards accepting the truth and loving that which is forbidden. Sometimes, the greatest cure for a vile belief is to be exposed to something different.

Thank you for reading this story. I hope you've had enjoyment, even if the themes were heavy. Racism and discrimination are never okay subjects to talk about, but I wanted to address them in this story. We're all human. We have one planet where we come from and we believe different things. Those who are different can teach us how to accept, but we must remain critical of how the person is.

I'd like to say personally that, no matter whether you have autism or whether you are born 'normal', you're all worth living your life. Autism is simply a different way of looking at things. As an adult, you'll look at the world entirely different than when you are in your teens.

I have enjoyed reading your reviews, thank you for the support. This is not my most popular work, but it has inspired thought in others. The amount of 'What the fuck, Cyanide' that I received from some people in my private messages was amusing.

Please enjoy my stories. I want everyone to read my stuff and be excited for the next chapter, or to look back on it and go 'that was pretty damn cool, I'll re-read it to see if I missed something.'

Thanks for sticking with me and my writing. Until the next story.

Cyanide Sins