Dislaimer: I don't own shit, surprising, ain't it?
Anyway, this story may have multiple chapters but they are not connected like in an usual story, I don't write such stories, because I plain and simply can't. I like too think that I can make at least passable short stories but I simply do not have the talent for to write longer stories.
But when I got the idea for this story, still not sure how I got it but hey, details, I realised that just a one shot would not be enough. Because of that, this Story is actually a collection of one shots who all belong to the same story but at different times in it. The overall tone might switch a lot during chapters.
The first chapter plays 17 years after the war against Salem was won but others also play during the War or at other times and I intend to make those quite a bit darker, including at least two character deaths. That said I do not intend to make this an angsty story, I just like stories about someone slowly becoming a Hero and loss is just part of it and of war of course. Now to address another issue, charas like Jaune will seem Ooc, this is because People grow and change, those chapters that play further in the past will obviously have a differently acting Jaune but the one during the time of the first chapter has a long war after him in which much was lost, obviously he is not the same person any more. Right one last thing, as you can see one tag is romance and 3 tagged charas are chicks, so to make it clear from the start, this is not a harem story, tough if you like any of those pairings you can stay for the in the past chapters, makes it kinda obvious which character deaths I mean, doesn't it? Anyway, without further rambling, here is the Story.
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Jaune looked out of the window, letting his gaze wander over the snow-covered landscape, it looked beautiful, it always did. Sighing he turned his gaze away, down to his scroll and the picture on it. He dreaded the conversation that would follow later.
His son looked like the perfect little Schnee, sometimes he wondered how his younger self would react if he knew how he would end up and with whom, or even better, Weiss. The thought alone was enough to make him chuckle. She would probably faint right on the spot. Actually, he wasn't sure if that was even possible but he trusted her to still manage it somehow.
Still, soon the somber gaze returned. His son should not look like this, the white hair, the blue eyes, they looked so wrong on his face, yet he had done it for some reason Jaune couldn't understand.
Suddenly the door opened and he heard the butler call.
''The young master has returned sir'', with one final sigh he tore his gaze from the scroll.
''I see, you may go now Edward.'',
''Very well sir.''
Hearing footsteps and the door closing he braced himself for what was to come. He didn't look forward to this conversation but he knew it needed to be done.
While he waited for his son to enter and seat himself opposite to him Jaune compared the boy before him with the picture. There was no trace of the white hair nor blue eyes.
''I have returned from Beacon father, may I ask if mother is here as well?'', His son, Jasper, asked him very respectfully.
Jaune looked at him for a few seconds before answering.
''No, she is currently at a meeting with James, she will be returning in a few hours. Don't worry, she made sure to make at least tomorrow free. After all, we haven't seen you in months, but the meeting today is important.''
Not sure how to bring up the topic of the picture he decided to start with his own time at Beacon. That should make for a good start.
''I still remember my time in Beacon, I was quite the fetching young man you know?''
Jasper started grinning
''Aunt Nora told me you vomited all over the Place.''
This caused Jaune to cough embarrassed while silently cursing his teammate.
''Yes well, motion sickness is a very serious problem that should not be taken lightly.''
The embarrassment quickly turned into seriousness again.
''Jasper, tell me, how well do you fit into Beacon, did you have trouble finding friends?''
He could see Jasper getting nervous, he tried to hide it but Jaune could still see traces of his son's nervousness sipping through.
''No father, my teammates proved to be very valuable people and good friends.''
Without taking his eyes of Jasper Jaune raised his scroll and opened the same picture he had looked at before. It was time to get to the point.
''I am happy to hear that, say, those are you and your team are they not?''
As soon as he saw the picture Jaspers face turned pale and he asked with now obvious panic in his voice.
''Where did you get that picture?''
Jaune just sighed.
''Jasper, you go to Beacon. You know that I am good friends with Ozpin, of course he would inform me about my own son. Especially if said son is doing something so drastic, but that does not matter now. I just want to know one thing, why?''
Seeing his fathers stern gaze, Jasper nervously answered him.
''I am not sure what you are talking about father.''
This was not the answer Jaune wanted to hear and his tone made this clear.
''Do not sell me for stupid Jasper, I ASKED YOU WHY THE HELL YOU HAVE WHITE HAIR AND BLUE EYES IN THIS PICTURE!''.
This was a tone Jaune did not like to use, it reminded him too much of how much he changed, of what had happened to cause these changes. Yet he needed to know why Jasper would act that way.
Taken aback by his father's outburst Jasper lowered his head
''Because that's who I am, am I not, a Schnee.''
Jaune obviously did not like this answer either.
''That does not explain why you feel the need to change your face so you look more like one. I do not like that and neither does Weiss, I can assure you that. And seeing your earlier reaction I am sure you know that as well, so why did you do it?''
At this Jaspers tone grew bitter.
''Of course she wouldn't like it, wouldn't want to mistake me for her actual child after all now would she?''
There had been many possible reasons Jaune considered for his son's behavior, but never had he imagined it being so severe.
''W-What did you just say?''
Jasper scoffed
''You must have seen it as well father. I can see the looks she gives me when she thinks I am not looking, you know. She may love you and my brother but not me. After all it's not like I am her child anyways.''
At this Jaune stayed silent for a long time until finally gazing back at Jasper, sadness filling his eyes.
''That is not it- Do not interrupt me, please hear me out first''
He added when he saw that Jasper wanted to rebuke his statement. After waiting a moment for a nod from Jasper he continued.
''I need to apologize to you, I never thought you would feel this way but I also need you to know that Weiss does love you.''
At this Jasper could not keep quiet any more, despite his earlier agreement.
''THEN WHY DOES SHE ALWAYS THROW ME THOSE LOOKS, WHY DO YOU NEVER TALK ABOUT MY REAL MOTHER? It's because she does not want to be reminded that I am not hers, that's it isn't it, they were right.''
The last part of his sounds angry outburst concerned Jaune.
''What do you mean with 'they were right'?''
Realizing he had let something slip Jasper looked at the ground, until finally starting to mumble as if ashamed.
''Some of the others at Beacon, they say that mother only tolerates me because of you.''
He expected his father to grow angry again but instead he just looked even more crestfallen.
''I see, looks like I am still a coward after all, like I failed again.''
This surprised Jasper but he did not want to interrupt his father yet again.
Jaune stayed silent for a while again before finally starting to speak again.
''We really should have talked with you about your mother, I should have talked too you about her. It just is not an easy thing to talk about you must understand... no, that is just a bad excuse, we, I, was just trying to push aside something which shouldn't be pushed aside. Tell me, what do you know about her?''
Silver eyes stared into blue as Jasper answered him.
''She went to Beacon together with you, she was made leader off team Rwby, mother became her partner. Her team performed exceptionally and even stopped a terrorist attack on Vale. After the fall off Beacon she went off the radar for a while and later returned as a Hero in the big war, a legendary warrior who died to kill Salem and end the war.''
Was that really it? To think that he and Weiss kept silent to such a degree...
''Is that truly all you know, did we really never tell you anything? This is just stuff everyone knows, that has nothing to do with who she was, just what she was. A hero, that she was, I can assure you that. More so than me certainly. But that is not what you should see her as, that is not what she would want you to see her as, that is not what I want you to see her as. To you she should not be some great hero but your mother. She was, how to best describe her, completely and utterly awkward.''
As soon as he heard this his son's eyes widened in surprise.
''She was?''
Now Jaune had too smile. Of course, no official source could show any other side than the hero she became.
''Yeah, the first time I saw her she had literally exploded.''
,,... What?''
Chuckling at the disbelieving stare his son send him he continued.
''Yeah, she managed to blow herself up with a bit of dust, Weiss as well, you can imagine how amused she was with that. I just saw that Ruby was in trouble and wanted to help, not that I knew who she was at that time.''
Hearing this story Jasper asked knowingly.
''You must have impressed her a lot didn't you, arriving to help her like this like some hero.''
He was surprised too see his father blush at this, he almost never blushed.
''That is... not exactly what happened. I might have not made the most impressive figure, not to mention the totally normal but yet embarrassing reaction to those accursed bullheads I showed on the flight.''
Now Jasper was confused.
''But wasn't that just because of your motion sickness, sure, it's embarrassing but it's not like it changes how impressive of a Hunter you were.''
At that it was Jaune's turn to lower his head in old shame.
''But I wasn't, a Hunter I mean. If you want an impressive Hunter look at your mother. She was at Beacon two years early, she managed to impress Ozpin himself you. I, on the other hand, was decidedly less impressive, I was just a boy who foolishly dreamed to be a hero and faked his way into Beacon. I was not ready, hell I could barely use my sword. I told myself that it was not my fault, that it was my father's fault for refusing to train me but those were pathetic excuses. I could have done so much more, could have trained properly on my own. I was foolish and put my team in danger with that, not that they saw it that way, I was at the very least a good leader they said, we are gonna support you until you catch up, they truly were the best of friends, are the best of friends.''
Jasper had heard many far fetched claims in his life, but at this point none seemed more ridiculous than just father's self-deprecation.
''But you are a great leader, I read the stories about what you did during the War. And that is not all, there are also all those stories Cardin always tells me about you, not to mention aunt Nora and uncle Ren.''
Jaune smiled a little again at hearing that.
''That was after Beacon fell, when we decided to work together with James, when he took me under his wing. Before that, I was nothing special.''
Now his smile grew bigger and much softer.
''I guess they always saw something special in me, didn't they, I really didn't deserve them. But I wasn't the only one that was different you know, Weiss really was acting like a spoiled rich girl... well, more then she is now. She always became so angry whenever Ruby acted as what she perceived too childish to be fit for a leader and of course when Yang stuck up for Ruby.''
Hearing another name that came up in his search Jasper's curiosity got the better of him once again.
''Father, who is exactly was Yang? I know that she was on mothers team but not much more.''
At this Jaunes smile instantly vanished before it returned, though now it was obviously forced.
''That is a story I may tell you another time. You deserve to know but I cannot say that I like remembering this particular story.''
Despite wanting to share with his son, there were things he felt Jasper should not yet know.
''Let us get back to Ruby and Weiss. Weiss really couldn't deal with Ruby being made leader over her, she didn't like that at all. It was honestly pretty childish how she insisted that she was-''
he changed his voice into a very bad impression of Weiss,
''a much better leader then that dolt.''
Chuckling at the memory he continued
,,But in the end she managed to overcome her pride and accept Ruby as a leader and friend, not that this stopped her from complaining over her. She loves to complain.''
He wanted to continue when he saw his son looking shocked over his shoulder and behind him and started to gulp.
''She is right behind me isn't she?''
''Nope, just messing with you.''
Jasper burst out laughing. This caused Jaune too sigh with relive. Both because his son was smiling and joking again, and also because he would not have to deal with an angry Weiss.
''You almost gave your old man a heart attack.''
Jasper still grinned.
''Sorry just had to do it, your expression was priceless.''
''And here I thought pick on Jaune days were over.''
Jaune grumbled before sighing and picking up their conversation.
''Do you want to hear more stories about our time about Beacon?''
''I would really like to but... you really do not want to talk about the past too much do you?''
Jasper asked his father carefully.
At his sons question Jaune gave another sigh.
''It's not that I do not want to tell you those stories, most of them are fond memories, it just brings up other memories I would rather forget.''
''Then let us stop for today. You already told me enough.''
Jaune carefully watched his Son.
''Are you sure you do not want to hear more?''
''Of course I want to hear more...but I also do not want to force you to when it hurts you that much. Just tell me, why does Mother sometimes give me those looks, if she and my birth mother where friends then why does she look at me with such sad eyes?''
Suddenly he felt a soft pair of arms lay themself around him and he heard a gentle voice.
''Oh Jasper, I did not think that you would be so concerned about that, can't you understand? Ruby was my best friend, my partner, she helped me become a better person. When I look at you, when I look at your eyes I can't help but remember her, who she was to us all, who she was to me. But that does not mean that I do not love you. Ruby was the best friend I ever had, I helped to raise you when you were just a baby and when you were still a small child I became your mother, how could I not love you?''
Shocked to suddenly hear his Mothers words Jasper didn't know too react until he finally muttered a soft, ''I am sorry.''
At this Jaune laid his hand on his sons head.
''Don't be, it was our fault. We should have talked with your much sooner about this stuff, then you wouldn't have to have such thoughts.''
Following this they stayed like this until the silence became awkward, Jaune finally decided to break it.
''Didn't you say that the meeting with James would take until the evening.''
Hearing his words Weiss let go of Jasper and sat herself down beside her Husband, leaning her head on his shoulder.
''We managed to reach an agreement much easier than anticipated.''
At this Jaune grew interested,
''Does that mean...?''
With a small smile Weiss answered,
''Yes, project Schneesturm will go into production next wee... why are you looking at me like that?''
,,... Was that supposed to be a pun?'' Jaune asked astonished and slightly scared.
''I can make jokes to you know, pretty impressive isn't it?'' Weiss huffed
''Wow, look at the time, you know what, I am gonna make us some dinner right now, why don't you talk to your mother while I do that?'' and with those words Jaune stood up and walked, he totally didn't run, honestly, into the kitchen leaving Weiss to stare at Jasper who just tried to look away innocently, he failed.
''You know what, why don't I help father, just sit there and relax until we are done.'' And with that he ran, I mean, walked at greatly accelerated speed, after his father.
Weiss just looked after them before crossing her arms in front of her chest,
''I know I am funny, isn't that right Edward?''
The butler who had just entered the room to ask if any refreshment were required just smiled gently
''Why don't I see if the masters need any help making dinner, after all this is my job. I better hurry"
And with that he was gone as well.
''OH COME ON, I AM FUNNY!''
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Anyways, that is the first chapter of this story of mine. Just a heads up, the Son will obviously still play a role after this but I do not want to make a story based on Oc's. I am not really a huge fan of them either but this one had to be. As I said some characters may come over as ooc but I really hope that over the course of the next chapters I can show that they are still the same characters, just changed, some more and some less. I also hope that the past chapters will give an explanation for what happened to make these changes occur.
My Beta is Murphy Sl4w