AN: OK! I know this was unexpected! But as it turns out, I run a discord! And I occasionally make some money writing RWBY stories and smut for people! This story is more or less a thank you to everyone who has ever supported me and stems from a CHYOA story on the discord! THis is the story of Jaune being sold into life as a house husband by a despondent mother and his journey to be a hunter or die trying!
Warm. It was always warm when Jaune woke up; not hot Thank Oum but a comfortable warm like a small fire was raging in the night, light blue eyes flickered open as he blinked awake.
"Morning?" Jaune asked as a luxurious white linen cloth covered his bed, he groaned he pushed the thick dark covers off his body the thick blankets stuck to his body like a mass of wool. He sighed looking up at his dim room. The massive room that he called home was as lonely as ever.
Large black walls that looked like they were made of onyx or carved from coal glared back at him as dim blood red light filtered in from the only window painting the entire room a deep vibrant crimson.
"I have to get up, today is my day," Jaune said pushing the covers fully off of him the child gingerly exiting the cloth confines taking a breath before falling two feet to the floor. He thumped down his feet hitting the floor with a slight thud! As Jaune hit the ground, the cold onyx floors greeted his bare feet oddly heated as Jaune cracked his neck.
Today was important today was the single most important day in Jaune's life he needed to make a good impression his literal future depended on how well he could speak.
"Ok Jaune you need to calm down, you just have to talk to her. She's going to see things your way; she's not like Cinder.' Jaune said taking a deep calming breath-
A growl filled his ears, a low deep and guttural sound that sounded like it came from the depths of hell and made a chill go down Jaune's spine like he was doused in ice water. He froze the heavy thud of paws of the floor filled his ears; he turned slowly every so slowing a twin beady red eyes glared down at him, a Grimm was in his room. A monster of a Beowulf over eight feet tall massive muscled its legs thicker than Jaune's entire body, tenses with coiled muscles.
The monster opened its mouth a massive gaping slathering jaw that he could have easily put his entire head in and had room to spare filled with row after row of razor-sharp teeth, each one almost as large as Jaune's face and cruelly curved inward. The monster growled its coal like eyes narrowing to daggers glaring death as-
"Manfred," Jaune spoke to the Beowulf that had been roused to action by his awakening, the monster paused yawning loudly before closing its mouth. Manfred was... Manfred was two things to Jaune, he was one a protector and two a jailor. Manfred the alpha Beowulf first of his kind kept Jaune safe from all threats in his limited life but kept him under wraps and under control.
The monster growled asking Jaune what he was doing for the day. The beast could not speak thankfully so; the creature already did not like Jaune not in the slightest. Jaune knew it looked down on him thought of him as weak something it would rather be ripping in half than guarding.
"I'm going to see her today." Manfred let out a deep throaty growl a warning tone presented demanding Jaune to change his tone as he sighed.
"I am going to see our queen today. I have an audience that I must meet." The answer pleased Manfred the monster turned on a dime retreating once again to the shadows of the room his massive form blending in seamlessly into the shadows his form merging seamlessly with the darkness until only his coal red eyes never leaving Jaune as the boy rolled his eyes.
"Same to you," Manfred growled a warning tone.
"You can't hurt me, and you know it." Jaune hissed walking into the bathroom and shutting the door, taking his time to get dressed. He was extra through that day, combed, showered, fresh shirt dark black with a red sash on the side, hair slicked and combed back, dark black pants socks and shoes he was looking as good as possible.
"Well, you useless sack of fur and teeth. How do I look?" Jaune asked he only had one person to ask for fashion advice even if it was not a person it was still better than nothing.
Manfred growled ignoring the insult that would have usually sent a paw shooting up to knock Jaune right on his ass. The monster did not do that this time, it knew who Jaune was going to see and did not want the human to look anything but its best for its meeting with their queen.
Manfred sniffed one his massive snout going up and down he growled and nodded his approval seeing no faults with Jaune's outfit, pausing once sniffing before smirking in an oddly human manner before trotting away blending back into the shadows once again as Jaune sighed.
"So no problems?" Jaune asked the monster refused to even growl his coal red eyes slowly blinking as Jaune sighed.
"Thanks for nothing." The thing growled as Jaune walked to the large wooden door that lead to the outside Manfred growled again but Jaune ignored him.
"Yeah, yeah same here," Jaune said walking outside into the halls of the castle of the damned as he went to buy his fate.
The walk to see his queen was short mercifully short; Jaune moved at a steady pace not wanting to linger even for a moment. He moved swiftly through the long hallways carved out of the mountain laid smooth with only small torchlight to illuminate the path several seer Grimm passed the floating balls of jellyfish-like monsters floated past buzzing with a strange amount of power, however paying Jaune little to no attention they had limited sentience after all. He sometimes wondered if they even knew he was here at all.
"Ok. Here I am." Jaune gulped the massive blake doors with twin human arm bones on them stood before him he took a deep breath and knocked wrapping on the door. Bang! Bang! He knocked on the door a pregnant silence filled the air as-
"Who is it?" A calm, soothing but powerful voice asked as Jaune gulped. He had come too far to back down now he needed to be bold or it was all for not.
"It... it is me, ma'am! I have come to see you!" Jaune said another pregnant paused this one longer filled the air-
"Enter." The voice said as Jaune gulped the doors opened from the inside instantly twin red eyes like that of burning coal stared down to him a woman with skin the color of snow pale as death with eyes red like blood glared at him.
Salem herself glared at Jaune like he was to her an insect that had taught itself English as he entered the room. Jaune quickly closed the door his queen looked down at him with a displeased look to her eyes as Jaune gulped. Salem frowned her flowing black dress shimmered as she narrowed her eyes at Jaune in an irritated fashion.
"My queen-
"Jaune. Do you think I make rules for no other reason than to amuse myself?" Salem asked a curious look on her face as Jaune paused.
Yes. Yes, I do. Jaune thought before silencing his mind.
"No ma'am I do not." Jaune said not sure what he had done to anger Salem bu knowing that an angry Salem could be a violent Salem and while she had never harmed him physically before he did not put it past her to start. She was an ancient and powerful being for a reason and-
"Then tell me why you seek to make a fool out of me in my own home?"
"I... I do not know what you are talking about. What have I done to upset you, ma'am?"
"Why are you not wearing your collar?" Jaune winced Salem asked the one question that Jaune did not know how to answer.
FUCK! I forgot my collar!? How could I forget that!? Jaune moaned internally Manfred was probably laughing his ass off thinking of Jaune's punishment that he would get from Salem for disobedience.
"Well, Jaune? I'm waiting? Why are you not wearing your collar that I made for you personally?"
"I forgot ma'am-
"Silence! Jaune I bought you to be a mate for my subordinate, but do not think I am above harming you for such insolent actions!"
"I'm sorry! It' won't happen again! I promise you, ma'am!"
"You are right it won't! Come here while I put another on you if you misplace your collar again I will brand it onto your skin and damn what Cinder has to say about it!" Salem barked her tone dark and threatening Jaune whimpered Salem had always treated him like this, like a pet. She bought Jaune when he was young still a baby and had seen to make him a pet of the castle. A human that while not an enemy was not fully on their side. She saw him as a mascot for her castle and a mascot needed to be dressed in proper attire.
Cinder had asked Salem for a family as a reward, so Salem as a reward to her protege had procured her a husband young from a good family and just young enough to be trained. Even if that training had not been through. Jaune's presence here was enough to-
"Jaune! Stop dilly-dallying! I hate men who cannot be decisive! Now move! Stop pussyfooting or so help me!" Salem's eyes flared up her magic being to cast the scent of ozone filled Jaune's nose-
"Yes, ma'am!" Jaune said as he rushed forward Salem already had a massive black collar in one hand as she nodded.
"Now stay still," Salem said putting the collar around Jaune's neck reaching over him as he gulped.
"Yes, ma'am," Jaune said as she clicked! The collar on his neck. Salem smirked it was nice when her possessions looked the part. Jaune sighed the collar was not heavy but large it did not weigh much for some reason and-
"Now tell me Jaune what did you wish to discuss with me today?" Salem asked satisfied that her mascot was back in his proper attire, she leaned back in her chair more curious than anything. It took a lot for even her own subordinates to seek a personal audience with her for Jaune to do it? It must be something important enough to brave her presence and more importantly to risk her wrath.
"I wish to become a hunter! Ma'am please I know you and Opal do not get along but-
"No."
"Ma'am if you just give me the chance-
"Jaune. I have long since buried my hatchet with Opal and humanity as a whole. I do not quarrel with her or the kingdoms. And in return, the Grimm no longer listen to me with the exception of ancients. They do still attack humans, but they leave us alone. You will not risk your life pursuing death. The Grimm are eternal; you can not defeat them only endure them."
"But-
"No but's. Now go. Food will be ready in two hours. And you better have your collar on or else." Salem hissed as Jaune gulped.
"Yes, ma'am.'
"Good boy now run along," Salem said as Jaune sighed he had failed plan one now time for plan two...
"Ok, I can do this!" Jaune said as he placed a small silver square on his bed, Manfred huffed interested but not that invested in what the human was doing. Salem had rebuffed him that was fun enough for it as Jaune looked at a small holographic blue map popped up showing the kingdoms as Jaune made his plan he failed to get hunter training willingly now it was time to take them by force.
Jaune was not the strongest of children, but he was one of the smartest and most determined, but years studying with Wat's learning politics, and on the side, mechanical engineering had taught him a trick or too mainly-
"Where the hell I'm going to go," Jaune said as he looked at the map.
Vale, Vacuo, Atlas, Mistra, Menagerie. All the places that he could go to be a hunter. He had one shot Salem had, so it was time to take drastic measures it was time to get the hell out of the castle by any means necessary.
"Ok. According to Wat's Salem has considerably less influence in Menagerie lesser developed for sure but she has fewer followers and support there. I can start there?" The plan was not perfect by any means Salem was confined more or less to her castle but that did not mean she had power on the outside world, Menagerie was the least in the pocket of Salem but it was also the farthest away from the academies especially Beacon. That was where Jaune wanted to go Wat's told him that his dad his actual father went there and he was determined to see it.
Still, there are options, Vale is the most liberal kingdom, I can probably fit in there easier, going there first might make my overall trip simpler but it is well connected and risk of Cinder finding me is higher. Atlas could be next, they have the most advanced technology, Wat's didn't tutor me in engineering for nothing. I could probably make a decent living there to afford my way to Beacon but it's the farthest away. Mistral is another good choice but Salem is well connected there I should avoid it really, besides that Vacuo? While almost no Salem it's not exactly a kingdom I mean it's a kingdom but it might blow down when a breeze comes to hard it is' overall direction. Either way Beacon, I have to make it to Beacon just like my dad.
"I have to make it, I know I can do it," Jaune said swiping through his kingdoms as a growl filled his ears Manfred did not know what the human spoke of, but he detected conspiracy and deceit. Normally Manfred would be praising his human's charge for finally growing up but this time he detected the hint of treason in Jaune and growled.
"Yeah, yeah go to hell." Jaune hissed as the monster growled. Not knowing what the human was talking about only that it had gone from depressed to determined in a short span of time.
And Manfred knew than when humans' go from despondent to determined it meant things were happening.
"Ok. After that? I can make it work; I have money from Wat's siphoning funds really comes in handy right, Manfred?" Jaune asked the Grimm growled but in the end, nodded. Stealing did work after all, and it was good that Jaune was learning the way of his home. Manfred just wished he knew what the hell his human was talking about.
He did not know if he should paw or nod in appreciation as-
"OK! I have what I need; I should pack light every second I stay is a second that I might get caught." Jaune leaped out of bed and to his surprise, Manfred did not move a muscle to intercept him. Jaune paused normally him leaving the room without giving the guard Grimm a reason would lead to a growl and him demanding an answer but the Grimm seemed content to let him walk out?
"Giving up huh? Nice." Jaune said as he walked to the door tearing it open-
"Jaune. Just the person I was looking for." A smooth burning voice said as Cinder Fall, his owner, master and fiance walked into the room. Jaune felt his feet slid to a stop his heart began to beat out of his chest as he let out a squeak of panic. Cinder glared down at her fiance her emerald eyes alight the older teenager barely into her teens closed the door behind her with a loud click!
"Cinder!? What are you doing here?" Jaune asked sweating his eyes turning wide as saucers Cinder strode into the room locking the door behind her there was a click! Followed by the tip, tap of heels on stone. The older teenager walked in her glowing eyes narrowed in on Jaune as she closed the door and strode in, Manfred trodded up to her panting as she smiled.
"Good boy, Manfred, have you been keeping an eye on Jaune for me?" Cinder asked ignoring Jaune's question entirely cooing as the monster of a Grimm whimpered moving forward to its mistress. Cinder was the actual owner of the Grimm besides Salem herself smiled. The Grimm was her pet more or less and it had no other master and would head to no one other than Cinder or Salem herself.
"Good boy." She said rubbing the back of Manfred's impossibly thick neck. The monster purred, like a fucking puppy into Cinder's hand as she locked her glowing eyes to Jaune.
"Jaune. I heard you went to Salem to ask about being a hunter?"
"I! I did-
"You know what I said about that. You are my fiance, and my fiance will not waste the life that I have assigned to him. I thought we discussed this, did you not listen? Or did you not care when I said end of discussion?"
"I! Cinder, please! This is my dream-
"It is the dream of drowning men to have oxygen and huntsmen not to be eaten by Grimm cease this foolishness at once or there will be consequences."
"Cinder!-
"No Cinder!"
"But-
"No Buts!" Cinder shouted her heel slamming to the floor Jaune whimpered backing up even Manfred seemed concerned slinking out licking her palm trying to calm her down. He knew that his mistress wanted her mate in one piece it would be hard to breed herself with him if he was eviscerated, even though that would give Manfred a tasty snack.
"I... Jaune bed now." Cinder ordered Jaune gulped crawling to the bed Cinder demanded walking over to the large bed sitting down smoothing out her perfectly fitted red dross and patting the cover next to her.
"Come." Jaune came in an instant not wishing to risk her wrath for a moment! He ran up aided my Manfred who lifted him up a bit with his snout as he seemed to say play nice! Or else, soon Jaune was sitting next to Cinder the girl was a foot taller than him six years older than Jaune in her early teens, her skin as smooth as marble and pale like porcelain. Her eyes glowed an ethereal orange glow as she sighed.
"Jaune... I know that we do not always see eye to eye... I know that I might seem cruel and selfish and I am. I am a self-serving person, and I make no bones with that. I am cruel when I need to and manipulative of all those around me and yes that means you. I manipulate you to my own will when I see fit, however…"
"However?"
"However, I had Salem buy you for me for a purpose, you are more than just a thing. I wanted a family of my own one day, and you are going to give it to me." Cinder paused her long raven like hair flowing past her back to the curve of her spine as she let out a long pained sigh left her mouth as she rolled her eyes.
"I do not like being cruel, to you that is. To others, I do not care but to you? One day you will give me children, and I want our children to have a father and mother that truly love each other. Something that I never had." Cinder paused a rare pained look came over her face as she shook her head.
"That being said hunting is too risky, I will not let you risk your life, however! I will do one thing if it is my power to make you happier here. What would you like? Besides being a hunter ask me, tell me what you want and you shall receive." Cinder said a rare true smile on her lips as she offered Jaune-
"My family." His reply was instant as the drop of the smile to a frown on Cinder's face. Cinder froze an awkward frown appeared on her otherwise perfect face as she sighed.
"What?"
"My family. Tell me about them. I never knew them. Please..." Cinder paused that was not what she had expected as Jaune had asked her the one question she did not want to answer.
"I... Jaune this will not be a fun conversation just so you know."
"I don't care please tell me!"
"Fine... Jaune, your father Nicholas Arc, as you know a proud descendant from a line of heroes was just like the rest of his lineage a hero a legendary hunter and a beacon of light in the dark. He killed many Grimm in his time and he eventually found a wife Juniper and had seven beautiful daughters. On one of his missions, however, is fidelity slipped... he had a son with, a random woman and that son is you." Cinder said as Jaune gulped. His lungs felt like a tail strike from Tyranna had punched him as he gulped.
"I.. he cheated?"
"I… Jaune before I continue I have to say any information I give to you comes from Salem herself. And she may or may not be telling me the whole truth."
"You think she's lying?"
"I do not know. It is not in my place to ask nor is it in yours to do so without cause. She told me as she saw fist so as far as I am aware this story is fully true with no falsehoods in it."
"So he did cheat?"
"He did... your his wife was furious... so furious so that without a means to strike back at her husband she decided to take revenge on the child."
"Me?"
"Yes... Jaune she sold you... when you were a baby, there was a market for Arcs-
"She sold me!? To people!?"
"She did-
"Was there some kind of damn auction!?" Jaune asked rage in his voice hands balled uptight as-
"Yes. You were auctioned off. Salem won the auction and bought you for me... I know that this might be troublesome to hear but that is the trust. You were auctioned off as a child to be my lover, I know that this might not be a convenient life for you but let's try." Cinder said gripping Jaune's hand squeezing his palm.
"Let's try to get along to love each other like real parents; if you put in work I will match whatever you do ok?"
"I.. fine..."
"Good. Now as a reward you can go see Wat's he wants to talk to you anyway." Cinder smiled as Jaune grinned that solved one problem Jaune thanked Cinder as she walked him out of the room.
"Manfred accompany him. Make sure he is safe." Cinder said the Beowulf snapped to attention the beast followed Jaune hot on his heels as the two of them made their way to the labs.
."Jaune my boy! What brings you here?" Wat's asked the mustached man with tan skin freshly sunk kissed, that looked like burned milk chocolate asked.
Dressed in his usual formal off red burgundy attire ben over a series of beakers. The lab was a small room with light blue metal wall and a mass of wire, machines computers beakers and all manner of scientific apparatus scattered about.
"I am here to see how the experiments are going sir," Jaune said smiling Wat's was like a father to him, the only father figure he had in his entire life and the man grinned back as he fixed his mustache. The man taught Jaune everything he ever knew, from how to read, write, politics, his background in mechanical engineering. Wat's was like a father to him and Jaune loved him for it every single day.
"AH! They are a splendid success! Most of them that is, nine out of ten parasites were successful!"
"Just nine?" While that number was high Jaune expected it to be ten out of ten. The parasite project to combine human and Grimm was high on Salem's priority and even one failure could be seen as one too many in her eyes.
"Yes, the tenth one was somehow able to gain limited sentience and rebelled it is in the bin marked for termination over there.'
Wat's said as Jaune followed his hand a jar full of rolling black goo filled the inside as Jaune paused the thing looked like moving sentient ink as he nodded. The goop seemed to react to his presence forcing itself against its glass walls as Jaune approached.
"I see," Jaune said walking over the goop seemed to notice him flailing about in its glass jail as-
The crashing of glass filled the air shattering Jaune's mood. Manfred knocked over a beaker spilling bright green listed on the floor-
"AH! You stupid mutt! SHOO! SHOO! Get out!" Wat's kicked the whimper, Grimm, out as Jaune shot out his hand. The black liquid seemed to embrace him sliding against the walls of its prison as Jaune reached out pocketing the parasite taking the vial of the failed parasite with him as he slowly began to walk out of the lab to the bullhead docks of the palace.
Being kept was not all bad, no Seer bothered him on his way out Cinder must have given him clearance to roam free and with Manfred preoccupied with Wat's? Jaune found his way to a custom Bullhead the Vesperia.
The good thing about the castle was that it was mostly empty almost no one wanted to come here and those who did almost all had jobs to do. And with the location of it being so… hostile to almost all forms of life there was little need for any form of guards a fact Jaune used to its full advantage as he climbed in the Vesperia making sure to slide the door shut tight as he walked in. The Vesperia was made for speed and fuel efficiency and had a state of the art GPS tracking software on board.
"Time to say goodbye," Jaune whispered as he put in his identification card, the craft lit up as he pressed several buttons a GPS screen flashed load coordinates to Menagie as Jaune nodded. The craft he and Wat's built by hand slowly lifted up not making a sound its engines designed with motor dampening technology were like a soft hum in the back of his ears as the ship began to hover off the ground.
Soon the craft lifted off and silently like a whisper carried Jaune into the night sky of off blood crimson as he left the only home he ever knew.
Jaune's peace was short-lived. Less than five minutes and ten miles out of his prison life had decided he had enough easy going and decided to throw a monkey wrench of colossal proportions his way.
"FUCK ME!" Jaune yelled as the Vesperia shook warning klaxons blaring the entire cupola bathed in flashing red lights the craft rattled like it was a tin can as the entire cabin was bathed in a harsh red light. Jaune slammed his hand down hard as he hit the afterburners the craft shot forward, the roar of Charles dragon of the Grimm lands behind him as-
"FUCK OFF CHARLES!" Jaune screamed as the craft rocketed away the Vesperia had due to an unfathomable amount of lousy luck tripped fucking Charles, of all things, had found him! The flapping of wings filled the air as a massive roar that threatened to tear Jaune's soul from his flesh filled the cockpit.
Ciner's pet dragon that she kept in the outskirts defending the castle from threat said dragon was now chasing after Jaune trying to melt the craft from the inside out as-
"FUCK OFF!" Jaune yelled tossing the throttle to the side in a desperate attempt to not be turned into a human marshmallow a wave of fire rolled past superheating the cockpit warning klaxon and temperature signs flared up as Jaune rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on!" He hissed as he pushed the throttle to its absolute limits, the craft forced forward another mighty roar filling his ears making blood spurt out of them as another roar filled the cabin the monster roared so loud that the vibrations shook his very bones making his ears ring as blood poured out from them.
"Would you stop yelling!?" Jaune asked another wave of fire rolled past almost turning the ship into slag.
"You damn lizard!" Jaune hissed pressing a bright red button there was a ding! That showed weapons locked and armed as the engines roared at full speed barreling the ship away from Charles as Jaune waited for his chance and began to count back from ten.
Nine. Eight, seven. Come on you piece of shit! Six, five four, three! Two! ONE-
Jaune was rewarded with a lung boom! And a scream that threatened to rip his mind from his skull as the missiles that had fallen back must have hit Charles in some critical area as Jaune whooped! The radar of the Vesperia showed the massive blip that was Charles fall away as Jaune pumped his fist.
"Fuck off you ass! You were always her pet!" Jaune hissed as the craft shot forward the GPS had lost its shit. He was way off the mark for Menagerie the flight and escape took him half across the Grimm lands! He was almost in-
"Vacuo!?" Jaune hissed groaning he was way off base! Now he-
Jaune never saw it coming. One second he was flying straight the right wing was gone. Charles the stubborn shit had launched one last fireball this one sheering one wing clean off the Vesperia. Making the craft plummet into a tailspin a Jaune screamed.
"FUCK!" Jaune yelled as the craft fell like a metal beam, falling in a jagged corkscrew! Jaune screamed in panic as the ship began to spiral! The ground blurred as the dead land gave way to desert dunes and mountain ranges, the ships afterburners forced it forward at insane speed! Jaune felt a large hand hit his chest pushing him back as he screamed.
"DAMMIT!" Jaune screamed as the blaring klaxons screeching red lights and warning chimes filled the air with a jagged stuttering cacophony of noise and sound as it all led up to the horrible sound of meal tearing as the ship crashed and his world went black…
When Jaune woke up, it was to the sound of water crashing onto a beach. His eyes fluttered open as something wet and hot was hitting his face as he groaned.
"What the?" Jaune hissed before yelping in pain his body was shot; the Vesperia had state of the art crash diversion systems large foam pads shot out all around him do undoubtedly saving his life in the process. But it was not without some pain, as Jaune winced.
His face was bleeding, that much was obvious, the bright red liquid poured down his face dripping down to his chest, his head felt like it was on fire and he knew he broke a leg, if not two of them.
"Damned lizard can't do anything right." Jaune hissed as he unbuckled himself he hit the floor with a thud!
His head spun vision split a headache that felt like it would split him clean in two filled his mind as he moaned.
"Ow..." Jaune groaned he was upside down and did not even realize it yet. He whimpered in pain fighting past it pulling himself out of the ruined cupola, as he did he finally! Got to stand and yup! Sure enough, his right leg was broken! Twisted in a wholly unhealthy fashion as Jaune sighed.
"Better than dead I guess," Jaune said aloud before a jabbing pain in his ribs flared up.
"The hell?" Jaune asked reaching down the vile with the parasite was still with him the animal or thing was very much alive moving around violently in its capsule as if dazzled by the crash. It seemed to be shaking looking up at Jaune as if asking what the fuck just happened and what would it take for it to never happen again.
"You and me man, I can't think right.. much less walk," Jaune admitted putting the vile in a lower pocket as he stumbled out of the ship a bright sun his face as he winced raising a sore arm to block his vision of the first time he ever saw the real sun as he jumped out feet sinking into wet sand as he landed. He saw that half of the ship was torn in two the door on the side wide open as he fell out, the beach on of some part of Vacuo greeted him waves lapping up on the ruined hull of the Vesperia. It looked like a fish that had been gutted.
A wing missing like a severed limb, inner metal and wires cut out like guts of a fish the craft had seen better days and so had Jaune.
The boy looked at himself in the ships hull; he was a mess. His custom crimson cloak was ripped and shredded into messy strands of fabric. A massive cut ran down his face nearly splitting it in two. The wound was deep, not fatal, at least it was not fatal yet but blood loss was adding up. Already Jaune felt dizzy; his head was spinning and his legs felt like they were falling apart, he needed to rest and get help, the child needed someone…
Child... that word hit Jaune hard he was despite everything that just a child. Even if he had grown up in the castle of the damned, fought his way out escaped a Grimm dragon and fought his way out of his own prison, he was only seven years old, barely above an infant he thought, he was young Salem bought him young to be molded into a proper house husband for Cinder.
Obedient intelligent and above all loyal. Or not that loyal. Cinder had done wonders in making Jaune fear her but very little to make him loyal and as Wat's would say while fear is always preferable to loyalty it is good to have a healthy mix of both. If one follows you out of fear and not loyalty then they will surely betray you when either an opportunity arises or a more terrifying persona comes for you.
"But you didn't think I would be this kind of loyal. Loyalty to oneself overall right?" Jaune asked no one in particular as he crawled back into the ship, broken seat cushions sparking wires that filled the cabin with sparks as he winced. Not bothering to duck inside the hanging cables like long black snakes spat out sparks like venom, he needed to find a medical kit and fast or-
"HELP! HELP ME! PLEASE!" A woman's voice called Jaune paused he had just! And he did mean just! Found a medical kit, the white box was next to a small pistol that had fallen out of its holster and was going to heal his busted head and-
"HELP ME! Please! Someone!" The voice cried out again as Jaune groaned. This was not the time to be thinking of others!
"Oh to hell with it! I got to start being a hunter somehow!" Jaune hissed taking the med kit grabbing an extra mag for the pistol and running off to be a hero…
The woman was in bad shape she was on the ground in a dune, she was tall for a woman over six feet with long exposed legs, a thin waist, a long blood matted silver cape and a massive bloody X on her chest. Jaune winced that wound needed treatment and now or she would die.
"Help!" She cried out again as Jaune slid down the dune sliding next to her as he smiled.
"I'm here!" Jaune said as twin silver orbs flashed up to meet him the woman paused and gasped coughing up blood as she turned to face him.
"Who are you!?" The dying woman said Jaune gave her his best I am here to save you and I know what I'm doing! Smile as he slid down.
"Jaune Arc! Nice to meet you!" Jaune winced the loss of blood from his head and what was more than likely a number of internal wounds was now front and center; a child should not survive the crash he did. The miracle of his own life was due to one of the most advanced safety system ever created Jaune slid down his vision blurring as-
"You are hurt!" Silver eyes said as Jaune smiled.
"I know! But you need this!" Jaune hissed taking out the long blue needle filled with flowing aqua goo the aura booster would heal the woman and hopefully but her on her feet.
Wat's never tested them I hope they work and don't kill her. The last thing I need is for the first person I try to save to die by accident!
"Wait! Listen to me! My name is Summer! Summer Rose and-
"Nice to meet you, Summer! Now sit still and let me heal you!" Jaune said taking the lid off the booster showing the gleaming silver tip.
"I said wait!" The woman silenced Jaune, not an easy feat when it normally took Salem herself to silence him.
"I-
"You are a child! I am an adult! I have a daughter! Her name is Ruby! I need you to heal yourself-
"You can tell me that later," Jaune said as he stabbed her in her chest. Summer gasped the aura boosting medication coursey of Wat's flooded her Summer glowed blue her wounds stitching up as Jaune smiled. Placing several gauze pads on the cuts before stabbing another needle into her. The second one seemed to do the trick her body stopped shaking and her breathing became normalized as Jaune sighed.
"I... you... fool..."
"It's ok Summer! You just-
Jaune collapsed blood loss trauma and overall exhausted breaking down the child as-
"Jaune!? JAUNE!?" Summer yelled her body almost back to half she shook over to Jaune hands out gripping his body as she began to pull him close.
"No, no NO! Listen to me Jaune! I have a daughter! Her name is Ruby! You are going to love her! She's going to love you! She's dying to meet you, but you have to hold on ok!?" Summer said panic clear in her voice Jane barely registered her his own body beginning to shut down as he smiled.
"I.. she sounds nice," Jaune said as his world went to black one last Jaune! Filled his ears as he passed out.
When Jaune next woke it was near night. He was back in the downed bullhead and-
"Yes, Opal he's here." The woman stated pacing to and for scroll to her ear. Summer was up and about her wounds apparently mostly healed as she paced back and forth.
Summer? Jaune thought winced his headache was mostly gone a mass of gauze was strapped to his head, his broken leg set as-
"I don't know how but it's him! He must have gotten away from the auction! I don't know! Look the bullhead will be here in five. I'm taking him back with me to Vale ok?" Summer asked as Jaune smiled his head fall as he felt his world go dark…
Jaune woke again to the sound of roaring motors and fresh air in his face. The sun was bright in the sky; he was flying over a forest? His head was in Summer's lap as she nodded off. The older woman rubbing Jaune's head as he sighed. He was free of Salem!
He did it! He was going to be a hunter and-
The universe did not like Jaune; that was a fact. Jaune felt it happen one lurch one massive lurch of turbulence sent him falling to the floor. Jaune let out a yelp of pain his still healing body not liking the fact that it was being treated like a rag doll.
Jaune groaned as the craft shook Summer did not even stir the injured woman still freshly healing from what would have no doubt been a fatal injury did not even blink as the plane tilted and Jaune still half out of it began to slide out…
The boy did not even have time to process what was happening one second he was in the craft on Summer's lap the forest below them the next? Jaune was falling; he slid out of the craft his limbs refusing to respond to him-
"SUMMER!" Jaune yelled as the woman bolted up her silver eyes locked onto Jaune as she shouted.
"JAUNE!" Summer yelled as Jaune fell. Jaune screamed he fell clear out the craft the ship roaring past as Summer yelled for it to turn Jaune was a massive wall of green trees larger than he thought they could really grow surrounded him, for once a sky that was not blood red but a nice calming blue looked down at him as he screamed what would more than likely be the last sound to leave his voice before he burst like a ripe apple on the forest floor or impaled by a thousand branches.
Well, at least I saw another sky. Jaune thought smiling as he did save one life. I saved Summer I am as good as any hunter. Jaune smiled as he accepted his early death-
CAW! The sound of a crow cawing filled the air as-
"I got you, kid!" A low gravely feminine voice said a gunshot was heard as something soft and warm slammed into Jaune's face, his face was buried in something soft and warm a woman's chest caught him as a woman!? Appeared out of thin air gripping him as-
"Fuck! Hold on kid!" The mystery woman who reeked of liquor and cigarette buts said as she groaned. Hold on!" She gripped onto a lone metal cord attached to the bullhead as-
"I got you!" Summer's voice said as the cable pulled the two of them began to hoist them up. The bullhead spun back allowing Jaune and the mystery woman a chance to right themselves as the were flung in the air like a yo-yo.
"That was close! Sorry about the bad luck there... my bad." The woman with pale skin short messy black hair and blood red eyes said as Jaune gripped her body for dear life. His small hands latching onto her his face buried in her chest as he clung to her desperately hoping she would keep him up-
"Don't drop me!" Jaune yelled as the woman let out a rough haughty laugh.
"Don't worry kid I won't let you go ok?" The woman asked taking out a flask!? She took out a flask to Jaune's shock holding onto the weapon keeping them alive with one hand drinking with the other-
"Are you drinking!?"
"Sure am!" She said taking a long swing of liquor making Jaune's head throb.
"Who are you!?"
"Name's Qrowe Branwen! Nice to meet you kid!" She said as Jaune groaned the day finally beating him as he sighed and passed out and let the darkness take him into its depths...
AN: OK! That's it! The first part of Hunter or bust! Like I said this is a story from the discord that is a CHYOA choose your own adventure! People vote on what Jaune does and I write it! If you like this story or want to be involved in making it? Ask me for a discord link and you can also get in! Warning. 18+ Discord. I pay rent in RWBY smut so expect to see the other side of my writing so be warned! If you like Jaune smut and don't like to see him cheated on or killed you might find a home! But otherwise, it can get ... interesting... Branwen out next and take care!