WS14

Cinder saw red. "Stop that. Get off him!" She reached forward for the girl, only to growl when Neo ducked behind her little brother and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Whoah, whoah," Jaune waved his arms to stop her. "Sis, stop! Look at her; you're scaring her so much she can't even speak!"

Scaring her- can't speak? Neo!? The idea was laughable, but before she could point that out, her mouth fell open as she watched the clever little snit look up at him with watery eyes and bury her face in his stomach. Why, that manipulative little- She growled and took a threatening step forward, prepared to tear the girl away from him, but for Jaune's expression hardening.

"Cinder, stop it!"

"Jaune, you cannot be serious. She doesn't believe in your idiotic plan; she's manipulating you."

"It's not an idiotic plan. Just because it's not been tried before doesn't mean it won't work!"

"This is the real world," she snapped, "not a place for your childish fantasies. This is exactly why you've never been allowed away from home like some of your sisters. You're too idealistic, too naïve and prone to rash decisions – just like this one!"

"That's not fair! I'm learning – I'm getting better!"

"Oh, you're getting better, are you?" Cinder mocked. "I'm sure that will make all the difference when you get yourself killed."

"I'm trying my best!"

"Your best isn't good enough!"

"It never is!" Jaune roared. The blonde stomped one foot, and for a moment his eyes flashed black and red, but he dragged it back under his control. "It's never good enough for you." With a frustrated snarl, he turned away and stomped towards the door.

"Don't you turn your back on me, young man!" Cinder snapped.

Jaune paused for a second, but huffed and pulled the door open. It slammed behind him as he left. In the silence left behind, her furious breathing filled the room. In and out, in and out, as her eyes flashed and her hands curled into fists.

That… that absolute moron. How dare he? How dare he ignore her like that? He would ruin everything – he would get himself killed. She didn't care in the slightest about that, of course, but it could cause problems with his mother, so that was something to be avoided. Her concern for him was professional at best – nothing more. When I get him back home, I'll bend him over my knee and make him regret this. He'll learn to show me the respect I deserve. Over ten years of my life put into raising him, and this is the thanks I receive?

There was a nervous cough behind her.

"What!?" Cinder snapped, spinning to pin the offender with a murderous glare. Emerald wilted under it, sat on her bed with one hand over her mouth.

"N-Nothing," she whispered. "I had something caught in my throat."

Cinder scowled and turned to Mercury, "Anything to add?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," Mercury said, face locked onto the wall beside his bed and back unnaturally stiff. They both looked like they would have liked to be somewhere else, but neither dared move towards the door.

Deep breaths, she reminded herself, closing her eyes to calm herself. She wasn't used to feeling so angry, even less so to displaying such emotion. He'd managed to get beneath her skin, however. Curse him for that as well but he wouldn't ruin her plans any more than he already had. "The two of you have your orders," she said in a calmer voice. "He is to be protected, but do not reveal our plans to him." Amber eyes narrowed dangerously. "As for you, Neo…" She paused and looked about the room. "Where is she?"

Emerald looked to Mercury, who looked back to her as if to say she should be the one to answer. They both flinched when they heard Cinder's foot tap on the floor, however. The silver-haired teen turned to her with a nervous smile. "She… uh… she went after him."