Black Gratification Part 5

“I've got a contract for you.”

The voice of Hei Xiong through the scroll call was resigned. All business as usual, but resigned. And James knew why. “A contract for me!” James echoed with surprise. “That is a turn. The Xiong usually just pay for my assistance and add it to the finder's fee. But you want to just hand an entire contract to me?”

“Yeah, well there's some people we just don't want the headache of dealing with, alright?” Xiong answered irritably. “Not worth the hassle. But hey, since we're such good friends–“

“Colleagues,” James corrected.

“Whatever. We don't wanna deal with this but hey, maybe you wanna wade through shit for a payday, I don't know.”

“Well then. Since we're being so chummy all of a sudden, care to share what has the Xiong so nervous?”

“... The White Fang.”

Ooh. Yes. James could see how that would be something of a sticky wicket. Directly helping the White Fang was one of those things that could sour relations with underworld organisations. Where the White Fang acted, everyone seemed to suffer equally. Though ironically, none more than the faunus nowadays. Especially in Vale. While the lot of the faunus in Vale wasn't perfect by any means, it was closer to egalitarian than the other kingdoms. As a result, every news story about the White Fang didn't breed respect or fear from humanity. It bred mistrust. The violent tactics had worked, certainly, but now was the time to put them away and sit at the negotiating table, to consolidate their gains.

A shame the local White Fang chapter was perhaps more violent and indiscriminate than even the ones in Atlas. They even attacked faunus rights protests. What the logic behind that was James would never know, nor would he care to.

“Alright... I won't reject it out of hand,” James hedged, “Who, and what?”

“Client's name is Kali Belladonna, wife of the former leader of the White Fang, you know before they went all psycho. Looking for her daughter who is currently a member.”

“Is,” James repeated, “You looked into it yourself?”

“Hey if she's out then I don't have to tangle with the Fang and I get a payday. But no, she's still a member. An important one, apparently. And since Mama wants to meet and talk to her kitten, that's where I stepped back. That's way deeper into this shit than I'm willing to go.”

As the information broker spoke, James was running searches of his own. Kali Belladonna. Another woman of motherly beauty. And a faunus, it had been a while since he had enjoyed something so exotic. “I see. Hm. That's a shame. I think I'll have to pass on this also.”

“Well I can't blame you. Guess I'll give the lady the bad news. I'll give you a call if we need anything.”

“Of course. Have a pleasant day, Hei Xiong.”

James smiled to himself as he hung up the call. Yes. Not the kind of thing the Consultant was interested in. But perhaps James Moriarty the professional huntsman would be.

-(-)-

Pierced cat ears. It was a more intriguing aesthetic than he had noticed just looking at the woman's picture.

He found her in a dive bar. Not the type of seedy establishment to conceal criminal enterprise like the Xiong family used. Nor the type for people to seek casual sex. The kind of miserable place where people go to be drunk and maudlin. And so it was a surprise when she looked up at him with droopy eyes as he approached saying, “First, I'm very happily married. Second, if your intro includes having something for a 'needy pussy', I might have to teach you a lesson in manners.”

“Well, that rather explains the fellow in the corner nursing the handprint on his face and his wounded pride,” James observed as he took a seat next to the motherly, mildly inebriated faunus. “I suppose he got excited at the sight of someone who wasn't a regular. This is more the place for lonely misery than pickup artists.”

“And yet here you are trying to make conversation,” she accused, watching as he raised a finger and the bartender got to work on something that was certainly not a standard request. “Did you get 'excited' too?”

“Hmm,” he hummed, rapping his fingers against the bar, “Perhaps you might consider it generally anxious at the moment,” he confided, taking his drink with a nod of gratitude and sipping it. “Starting a new chapter of my career, it may have left me a touch jittery. You know how when you experience a drastic change in your life and you want nothing more than to talk to anyone and everyone about it?”

“Must be a severe change then,” she spoke for the sake of continuing the conversation and not much else. The man wasn't being too much of a bother, not like the last one. “What do you do?”

“Huntsman,” he answered, eye flicking toward her briefly when she stiffened. “Well, it was so simple before. I'll start teaching at Beacon at the start of the coming school year.”

“Oh, that's quite the achievement.”

He laughed lightly. “Thank you, though I admit I'm rather anxious about looking after children.”

“Isn't the entrance age for huntsman academies nineteen? They're hardly children at that–“ she stopped, chuckling to herself, “No, I can't even finish that sentence with a straight face. What will you be teaching?”

“Procedure. Basically teaching them how to not get in trouble, how to get out of it if they are in trouble.”

“... Is that so?”

“Mm,” he hummed as he took another drink, “So, we've established you're happily married. And yet you're here in this dreary place. Care to share? I'm told I'm quite the able listener.”

James had always had a certain way with faunus. It was a strange but pleasant phenomenon. He had always been charming by inclination, by education and by deception. But somehow faunus, particularly female faunus, they fell so easily into his clutches it was too easy. Wasn't as fun. But when the mood struck him it was a nice change of pace.

And it was this ease with faunus that saw Kali Belladonna so quickly opening up to him about her problems. Not giving names, not breathing a word about the White Fang, the old or the new. That she had come to Vale hoping to find her daughter, to speak to her again. How she had tried to find someone who would help and come up empty.

A simple offer of help.

And then they were returning to her hotel. Not for illicit reason, just for the sake of privacy.

“I... Huntsmen don't arrest people, right?” she asked first before anything else.

“Not generally, no,” he answered, sitting next to her on her bed in her ratty hotel room. “Apprehend, yes. But we aren't officially law enforcement officers.”

“And... You don't need to report crimes.”

“It's up to our own discretion, same as for any other citizen. If I don't want to, I don't need to.”

“She's just... She's just misguided,” Kali explained prematurely, making excuses for her daughter before even stating her deeds. “Her heart is in the right place, it's just that woman, she convinced her the ends justified the means! Promise me, if you find her, please don't turn her in!”

Well, it wasn't like James would especially care if this woman's daughter were a criminal. “I promise,” he answered, putting a hand on her thigh.

She offered him a watery smile of thanks, putting own hand on his. At first, she intended to remove it... But... Didn't. “My daughter... My name is Kali Belladonna. My husband and I founded the White Fang, when it was an organisation pushing for fair treatment of faunus through peaceful means. Our daughter, she was so passionate for the cause, even when she was little she was always there for every rally she could attend. But when some members started to feel like we weren't getting the results they wanted, they took over, pushed for more violent resistance. My husband and I, we wanted no part in that. But Blake... There was another girl, an older girl who wanted equality by any means and Blake worshipped the ground she walked on. When we left the organisation, she screamed at us, said we were cowards, that Auburn would fight for us even if we wouldn't. And... That was the last time we saw her.”

“I see,” James spoke, his hand ever so slightly stroking her thigh, “Do you want her to leave them?”

“I don't care about that,” Kali sobbed, her head shaking, “I just want to see my little girl again, to make sure she's okay.”

“Alright,” James promised, “I'll see what I can do. Tell me everything you can. Do you have a picture of her?”

Having gathered enough basic information, James left her with a hug, one she held on to, feeling hopeful that this kind man would finally grant her dearest wish.

-(-)-

An actual job with some measure of challenge to it! One he wasn't being paid for, though he would be glad to receive his just reward when it was all said and done. Blake Belladonna was certainly a challenge to find, more of one to acquire. The distaste the underworld felt for the White Fang, and in particular this branch of the White Fang meant he had little to work from beyond what Hei Xiong had already given him. And with refusing the job as his alter ego, he couldn't use many of the resources and information channels he had become accustomed to.

That wasn't to call it impossible of course. He was still the inimitable James Moriarty. It was simply a matter of days rather than hours. Each day giving that poor worried mother an update on his progress, building that hope and appreciation for his efforts. Work as an actual huntsman it turned out was more irritating than satisfying, however. He would much rather have been comfortable at home with a nice cup of tea looking through reports than out in the woods tracking criminals. But needs must.

It was close to a week of research, examining suspected targets of White Fang activity, actual assaults accredited to them, discovering whether they were actually responsible or an easy scapegoat. Then mapping them to see a pattern in their movements. Then going out into the field to track them. It was all very inconvenient, digging deeply into time he could have been reshaping Glynda's mind and body to his needs. But finally he managed to accurately discover not only their current campsite, but also what their next target was. It seemed he was not the only one looking for them as he discovered the leaders of this cell were meeting with a human woman. How intriguing, his unwitting co-conspirator was attempting to gather allies. And failing.

But more important for his purposes was confirmation that Blake and this Auburn character would be hitting their next target, a dust shipment being transported by train the following day.

And so here he was, comfortably riding atop a cargo container, feeling the wind in his hair as it rode the tracks through Forever Fall. At least the scenery was pretty. James relaxed, dozing as he waited for something interesting to happen, occasionally activating his semblance to check for signs of the would-be robbers.

And there they were.

A bit amateurish to only catch the end of the train but he wasn't really there to critique their performance. He was there to acquire a certain dark-haired kitten, hopefully without earning her ire. It wouldn't be good to bring her to Kali angry. He waited for them to come to him, knowing they would want to stop the train, neutralise the crew if they wanted to abscond with the cargo.

Ugh, they were noisy for thieves too. He could hear their battle with the security forces even over the chugging of the train and–

Hm. He moved to the next car down from the front, watching a little disagreement take place. The redheaded cow faunus looked dismayed as Blake cut the coupling, allowing the front of the train to speed away with most of the crew and about a fifth of the cargo while the rest drifted to a stop with Auburn still on it.

“Huh,” he uttered, startling the cat faunus from her dramatic goodbye. She spun around blade raised and pointed in his direction above her. “Well that was an interesting decision. Certainly not what I expected from all I'd heard about you.”

“Who are you?!” she demanded, on edge but not willing to attack so long as he wasn't being aggressive. And considering he was lounging on top of a train car, he certainly wasn't.

“Oh, quite right, forgot my manners for a moment. Your personal drama was so engaging. Ahem,” he cleared his throat, rolling himself down from the roof to stand before her, straightening his rumpled clothing. “My name is James Moriarty, huntsman, professor at Beacon Academy.”

“A huntsman,” she spoke, suddenly looking concerned, glancing toward the rapidly moving ground beneath them, doubtless considering just jumping off and tanking the impact on her aura. Though as she glanced back at him, she looked skeptical.

“Yes, I know, not quite as flashy as most, am I?” he asked with a chuckle. “I'm actually here on behalf of your mother.”

“My–!” she gasped, “You're not... Here to arrest me?”

“Arrest you?” he echoed, amused. “No, nothing of the sort. My original plan was to abscond with you while, ahh, Auburn was it? While she wasn't looking. Take you to see Kali, then you could figure out what you would do from there as you liked. But if I know anything about young people making life-changing decisions, having a long overdue talk with your mother might be just what you need.”

“I don't even know what decision I just made!” Blake complained, having not really thought this whole thing through. “Auburn is going to be looking for me now.”

“Probably. Your friend– Ah, my apologies, your lover,” he corrected on seeing her subtle reaction to the word, a correction that made her stiffen, “She likely didn't take your actions well. If I might make a suggestion, perhaps you should seek refuge in a place she will not be able to reach you, at least until you're ready to deal with her again.”

“What are you even talking about?” the cat faunus demanded. “Aren't you just here because of my mom?”

“Well, yes, originally, but the huntsman academies are always looking for capable young people to put their strength to noble purpose.” He shrugged. “Of course, that would be up to you. Either way, you have an appointment to keep.”

-(-)-

“Thank you!” Kali gushed as James arrived at her hotel room once again, wrapping him up in a hug, pressing her nose into his neck breathing deeply of his scent. “Thank you thank you thank you! I can't believe– She's out!”

“I'm glad I could help,” he responded, stroking her hair.

“She's out of the White Fang, I never could have imagined– This is more than I ever could have dreamed of.” She pulled back to look him in the eyes, pushing him away just a little, with just a touch of effort that he allowed to move him, and so she stopped pushing. Knowing she should, that she was getting too... Attached. But at the same time it wasn't what she wanted. “You... You did so much for me, for my family. You never even asked for anything in return. Not even once.”

“That wasn't why I did it,” he assured her smoothly.

“I know,” she whispered, thoroughly believing he acted out of the goodness of his heart. “And... That's why...” she moved fully away from him, tugging at her sash, letting her hakama fall open, “I want to... To express my thanks. J-Just this once.” She finished in a whisper that wasn't for his ears, but was heard by him regardless. “Ghira doesn't need to know.”

This. This was why he did it. “Kali,” he breathed more than spoke to not break the magic as he moved in to embrace her once again, pressing himself against her bare skin. “You don't have to do this.” Even as he said the words a hand circled around her waist under her open clothing, feeling the heat of her skin against his palm. His other rose to just behind her ear, gently stroking at the soft hair.

“I know,” she agreed, a purr rising from her chest against her will. “I want to.”

“Well alright then,” he smiled, “No regrets.”

She was a woman who didn't have reason nor inclination to preserve her body like a temple. Even still, despite that, she retained her motherly beauty, soft like An had been. Her naked body a picture of womanly curves. James had no idea whether her mewling was intentional as he explored her while she removed his clothes. She gasped, a hand flying to her mouth as she unleashed his manhood. “Bigger than–“ she whispered.

“What was that?” he asked, teasing.

“N-Nothing, I didn't say anything.” She lowered herself to her knees to get a better look at it, putting her hands on it, marvelling at the size and the heat radiating off of it. “Oh my...”

He smiled proudly. “Of course. You said nothing at all.”

She wasn't listening to him anymore. Too busy exploring and salivating at the pillar of flesh before her. She wasn't sure she could wait for this. Her mouth closed over the head, took in a big lungful of air through her nose... And immediately pulled back. “I'm sorry, I can't wait!” she begged, getting to her feet and bending over her bed. “Please, I need it!” And looking at her weeping slit it certainly appeared true. Much like every faunus woman who had just a little too much intimate contact with him, Kali had become a needy slut for his cock. It no longer mattered that she was married, she was his. She may return home to Menagerie after this encounter but it wouldn't be long before she came right back to beg him for more.

He groaned as he sank into her depths, her back arched sharply at getting thoroughly filled. She was a mother, she still had an active sex life with her husband and yet due to her speedy climax from how amped she was and his size compared to her, she may as well have been as tight as a virgin for him.

She yowled in pleasure as she came on his cock, a sound converted to yelps as he hammered her straining cunt. Her husband would seem limp and disappointing from now on compared to what James could give her.

He wondered, as his balls slapped over and over again into her clit from his rapid pace as he showed no mercy or restraint, if he finished inside her, would she care? Would she regret it then? If he left her with more than a pleasurable memory, something more permanent to remember him by.

It was a pleasant thought as he spilled a hot load of his seed into her womb, a sensation that pulled a throaty, shuddering moan from Kali, as she collapsed facedown into the sheets.

He gave her soft backside a quick swat before rolling her over to lie on the bed, her spread legs hanging off the edge. Already his heavy load was dribbling from her gaping hole.

Her fingers reached down, ran through the slight patch of hair and pulled apart her pussy lips. “Is that all?” she asked with a challenging smile. “Just this once, remember? Lets make the most of it.”

It amused him that she was still holding onto this delusion that she wouldn't come back for more. But she was here and willing, and he could certainly go again. He dove on top of her, lining up with her eager cunt and slammed home, staring into her golden eyes as he tried once again to breed her like his own personal bitch.

He didn't believe for a second she wouldn't take precautions in the morning, but it was fun to imagine.

-(-)-

An old warehouse, a small army of White Fang (who had evidently never heard the phrase 'plausible deniability' if their wandering around in full uniform was any indication), a couple of misfit children. These were the resources this 'Cinder' had gathered for her mission. James wasn't sure whether to be more disappointed at the poor quality of minion the woman had gathered, or be disappointed she needed them at all. Whatever her task, Moriarty was certain he could carry it out entirely on his own.

Perhaps both? Both was good. Living in the Grimmlands meant Salem couldn't be too picky with her own underlings, it seemed. How lucky she had gotten in acquiring his own services in that case.

“Oh,” the woman in red uttered, her lip curled in disgust. “You would be the other one then. Why she felt the need to send someone else I'll never know.”

“And for those of us who have actual manners,” James spoke, sketching a bow, “James Moriarty. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cinder Fall.” The temptation to call her by her real name was strong. Cinder had already decided on haughty dismissal as her first impression. It was difficult to resist the urge to knock the smug creature off her high horse but there was no benefit in declaring himself an enemy before destroying her. Though internally he was already considering her eventual fate. He continued to wear his genial smile as depraved horrors floated through his mind.

“Hmph. Charmed,” Cinder spoke, sounding anything but, “But I'm afraid I don't have any use for someone like you. Whatever Salem has you doing, I suggest you get it done and get out of my way.”

Ah, so she saw him as a threat, was that it? Of course. She saw herself as powerful, working at the behest of an ancient shadowy figure. She was the type to get off on that kind of thing. Someone else around working for that selfsame figure? It marred the fantasy. Not an irreplaceable confidant, just another pawn in someone else's game. Easily discarded, easily replaced.

“Oh, well that's a rather disappointing attitude. Not even going to introduce me to the lovely young ladies in your employ?” James sighed helplessly. “Very well. I only wished to make introductions, offer my services should you need them.” And l;et her know he had discovered her little hideout with minimal effort and could stroll in with her men none the wiser. “I will extend that offer all the same. I'm certain a woman of your means and capability can find a way to contact me should the need arise.”

“We won't need it,” she answered gruffly.

“Not the collaborative type I see,” he said with clear disappointment, “Very well. Then I shall bid you all a good night.” His eyes moved to Cinder's misfit minions, the assassin and the thief, giving them a shallow nod, “Ladies,” before turning and walking away.

To her credit, Cinder was smart enough to send one of her minions to follow him out so he was gracious enough to come out exactly the way he had come in. Completely unnoticed by the faunus thugs as he moved through them, staying in blindspots the entire way. He enjoyed the look on the silver-haired girl as he gave her a little wave before disappearing through the open door. Not seconds later there was a guard posted at the doorway, as though that would plug the hole in their security. As though he couldn't get in a half dozen other ways.

Children. Thought they were untouchable but just so inexperienced. It was adorable really.

He hummed a meaningless little tune to himself as he walked home. It was quite the pleasant walk, crossing the river to the residential district, strolling along the water's edge, moonlight reflecting off of the surface. He shared friendly greetings with his neighbours as he approached his own little townhouse.

“Darling, I'm home!” he called out after shutting the door behind him. Certainly Cinder had been boorish but there was no cause to let that ruin his evening, especially knowing what he was coming back to. With a skip in his step he strolled towards the stairs down to his basement. He had spared no expense soundproofing this home, keeping the events that transpired inside away from prying eyes and ears and the basement was the most thoroughly secured. Here was where he kept Summer not long after he discovered her name. It seemed prudent to keep her secreted away, at least for now.

And there she was, bound to an x-shaped set of restraints. Arms up, legs spread. Her skin flushed, body soaked with sweat, her chest heaving from her deep, juddering breaths. Her panting underscored by her strained, tremulous whimpers. The source of her agitation was plain to see, the luminous vibrating beads stood out strongly against her skin. They had been placed in the obvious locations, the common sensitive spots, but also the particular weak points more unique to Summer. It had been an amusing evening studying her reactions to find each and every one of them.

“And how are we doing this evening, dear Summer?” he asked, not particularly expecting a coherent answer as he looked at the readout on the monitor attached to her vital signs detector. The system was simple. If the detector noted the signs indicating an oncoming climax, the system would turn down the vibrators to their lowest setting, only to raise them again after her body calmed down. “Thirty-seven?” he asked with an impressed air, He had only been gone for an hour. “Well aren't we a hair trigger.” Not that he wasn't aware of that already. Summer, it seemed, was one of those lucky women with particularly sensitive erogenous zones, who found it much easier to reach climax. She had probably never had a sexual encounter that left her unsatisfied.

Until she was put in his care, of course.

“P-Please, Mas-st–“ she stammered, her white eyes near unblinking. Her body jerked as she came so close to reaching her climax, desperate for that tiny bit of stimulation that would send her over the edge. “C-Cum...!”

The counter on the monitor ticked up to thirty-eight.

The erotic sight had brought him too full stiffness quickly. With a few keystrokes he shut down the command to deactivate the vibrators before pulling out his cock. He moved close, close enough to press his erection against her taut tummy, hot against her sweat slick skin. “Do you think you deserve it? Are you a good girl?”

“Y-Yes, Master!” she panted, smiling dopily, once again able to form coherent words without the delirium of impending orgasm. “Summer is a good girl! Summer is the best girl! Summer will do whatever Master says!”

“Summer,” he spoke her name conversationally, “Do you remember much of your old life?” he asked. “Did you know you have daughters?”

“Summer does?” she asked, gyrating her hips against his length hoping to miraculously impale herself upon it despite the more than foot of distance from head to opening. “Mnh, are they pretty? Does Master want them? Summer could get them for him!”

James chuckled to himself. “No, that's quite alright, pet.” It had been an interesting discovery after he so kindly reminded Summer of her real name. The mind can do strange things in difficult circumstances. It seemed over the more than a decade Summer had been in Salem's care had resulted in some drastic measures. She had buried everything, buried herself. Enough that he had to put in a surprising amount of effort to bring back something so simple as her real name. But that? That was nothing compared to how deeply she had buried the things she truly cared about.

Summer had been a huntress. She had a team. She had a husband. She had an adopted daughter. She had a biological daughter. All of it. Every bit of it, buried so deep that James doubted he would ever be able to drag those memories back out. For all intents and purposes? They were deleted from her mind to protect the people she loved. Even when he arranged for her to see pictures, the people she had once loved were no more than strangers to her.

“Oh...” she murmured, honestly disappointed she couldn't do that for him, only to be distracted by the over-strained coil she felt tightening in her body for the thirty-ninth time. She looked up at her master with pleading eyes.

“Well, perhaps some time in future. I will be meeting them soon after all,” he told her, watching her face light up as he moved down her body. “But for now, lets take care of you for being such a good girl, hm?”

“Please!” she begged. She had learned as so many before her had. If she wanted something, pleading was a very good way to do it. “Please, please, please, please, Masterrrrrr–!” she wailed as her peak approached.

Over a foot of solid flesh parted her channel in one thrust into her soaking, velvety-soft hole. “O–!“ Her mind crashed. Every muscle in her body tightened at once, her cunt tightened, spasmed, sprayed her juices all over her master's cock, spreading the puddle beneath her from hours of teasing even further. Seconds passed, the great tidal wave of finally released pleasure slowly, slowly receded. Her body fell slack, her tongue limp and drooling over her hanging jaw, eyes more vacant than ever. The only sign she was even conscious was the slightly mad giggling she was letting out as her master fucked her, used her for his pleasure and in doing so giving her more than she ever bargained for. The final lesson she learned. Give Master what he wants. Receive what you never knew you needed.

And she needed this. Over and over again, she needed it. And over and over again he gave it to her, another wave quickly building, not overwhelming like the last, a more than pleasant aftershock. Yes. Whatever he wanted, she would make it happen. She was his.

“Summer is,” she slurred, blinking heavily, sleep claiming her after her ordeal as James kept ramming into her, “Summer is so happy to be Master's. Master is so good to her.”