Jaune sighed, down on his luck as he was walking down the corridor in the few minutes left of his Lunch break. The thrill of finally being in the school of his dreams was tapering off into the pressure and demand to do well. Between trying desperately to stay awake for long enough in Professor Port's class to learn anything, the caffeine-induced insanity that Doctor Oobleck thought was teaching, and being tossed around by teacher and student alike in Professor Goodwitch's dog-fighting arena.
Of course, these problems were only magnified by the encroaching threat of Exams, looming over the campus like Nidhoggr, the legendary Grimm himself was wrapped around the tower of Beacon, eating reality, handing out assignments a week before exams and other unforgivably horrible things.
He arrived at a fork in the corridor and turned into the next one aimlessly, trying to recall what he needed to study for each subject, or what the subjects were. No one could possibly make a school where the only academic subjects were Biology and History, right? He was also struggling with an abusive relationship... with himself. These days, he was beating himself up enough both figuratively and literally. He felt guilty for not living up to his team's expectations, and was sore after Pyrrha and her magic redirecting of metal. Fuckin' Semblances… how do they work?
Speaking of his team…
hr /
"Hey Jauney! I found this really neat white powder on Oobleck's desk. I'm pretty sure it's Energy dust, cause when I breathed it in it's making my brain do the tingle and it's helping me study FASTQUIK. Why, I've finished the exams already!"
"Nora the exams are in two weeks, how?"
"Oh, I exist beyond your puny scope of 3 dimensions now, Jauney! Do you want to know what the SUPERSTRINGS look like?!"
"Jaune, this is for you. It'll help with general energy levels, vitamin deficiencies-"
"Ren, that looks more alive than I feel."
"Relax Jaune, it's perfectly natural!"
"It's climbing up the glass and is trying to bite your hand. I am not drinking that."
"Okay, Jaune, it's time to run through the routine again! Now I'll be using my semblance, so be aware and make sure to resist it. Ready? Go!
...Oh, that looked painful, I'm sorry, but you've really got to-"
"Pyrrha, don't you dare-!"
"-Stop hitting yourself."
"Goddamnit..."
hr /
The less said the better.
Jaune held his hand up to block the glare of the Sun, turning away from the bright orb set against a brilliant blue sky and casting soft afternoon shadows on the lush forests of Beacon. It really was a beautiful day outside.
"You're mocking me, aren't you?" He asked the celestial object accusingly.
Suddenly, a cry of pain rang out further down the corridor, followed shortly by a chortle only upper-class Daddy's boys and some species of primate are capable of. Only one person that Jaune knew that was possibly both.
"Cardin." He uttered.
He ran down the corridor, turning from door to door until another cry rang out, and he pinpointed the location. An old lecture room, discontinued from use due to the impractical size. It was no bigger than a classroom used in primary schools. Jaune unsheathed his sword and activated his shield, and slowly opened the door to find Cardin, as per usual, bullying a Faunus. This time, the unlucky girl was Velvet, writhing in his grip and being held with her arm behind her back.
"Oum, it's not enough that you look like a rabbit, you're even beginning to sound like one." Cardin took a break from twisting her arm behind her back to laugh at his own wit. Wiping away tears of mirth, he twisted her arm back further, eliciting another cry of pain. "What's next, setting up nest in the weapons room?"
Jaune made his presence clear by slamming the door shut. "Cardin, for dust's sake, put her down." He said angrily.
"Hey Jaune…" Velvet sighed slowly, panting from the pain.
"Oh Jaune, this isn't what it looks like, I was just asking her about some relatives!" He exclaimed with patronizing false sincerity. "Chateau de Winchester has an extensive grounds, I just wanted to make sure I hadn't killed a cousin when I was hunting 10 years ago." He leaned in closer to Velvet's left (human) ear, he asked "Tell me, about a foot long, Brown spotted ears, white coat? Ringing any bells?", voice lowered in faux concern.
"Enough Cardin! Back away from her now! I'll fight you on this." Jaune snapped, raising his sword and shield to a threatening position. When Cardin didn't take action, he jeered "What's wrong? Scared without the rest of your little flock of birds?"
Cardin leaned away slightly from Velvet while still holding her in a lock, looked him in the eyes, snorted derisively, and promptly ignored him, proceeding to ask Velvet. "Another time, this rodent was long haired, made a great stew-"
Jaune charged at him, aiming to knock him over, prepared to fight to help his friend, that he'd never really talked to… whatever, that wasn't important, he was still prepared to fight!
What he was not prepared for was Cardin's mace, out of the blue and propelled by a dust explosion, knocking him clean off his feet and scattering dropping his weapons. He crashed into a table or two, the old furniture cracking under his weight. He came to a stop and groaned, vaguely registering Velvet's cry of despair and the smell of aging wood. His weapons laying at about Cardin's feet. He slid his scroll out of his pocket to see about half his Aura was gone. Aww, shit...
"Wow, trained by Nikos and you couldn't even dodge a surprise attack." Cardin taunted, strutting around like an oversized bird. Though, even through the pain and taunting, Jaune was picking up something off with the scene in front of him. As Cardin paced, he spun his mace in the air between his two hands...
Two hands…
two han-where did Velvet go?
Jaune suddenly looked down to see Velvet grabbing his weapons from underneath Cardin, surprisingly quietly. She noticed his gaze and gave him a remarkably Sultry wink with a finger up to her lips.
Jaune stared at her with his mouth slowly opening. She was currently crawling out from under Cardin's legs, holding his sword between her teeth. Cardin, noticing his gaze, stopped spinning the mace for a moment. "Jaune, I know I'm well endowed" he drawled, "But there's no need to stare. I mean, I sympathize, being that small must be difficult-"
And suddenly, back in her full 5'6", stood Velvet. "Stop being so mean!" she cried, holding Jaune's weapons in front of her in an awkward grip, radiating unconfidence. Jaune looked at Velvet in exasperation, it was sweet of her but this was Cardin, the man could bench a Sedan. She couldn't stop him with her own weapons, let alone Jaune's.
But before he could voice any of these concerns, she looked back over to Jaune, he could have sworn he saw a thousand-watt grin of Nora about to smash a Grimm into atoms. He recoiled further into the desk reflexively, avoiding splinters by Aura alone.
"Oh please, vermin. You're going to fight me?" Cardin sneered, body shaking with unrestrained chuckling. He lowered himself in a loose stance, grin still plastered infuriatingly on his face. "I'd be disgusted if it wasn't so funny. Well then, come on. Show me what you've got!"
Jaune began to rise to his feet slowly, maybe he could get the jump on Cardin.
Velvet supposedly flinched away from Cardin's gaze, hair obscuring her face from his gloating view. She used this privacy and glared, mouthing 'Sit down!' at Jaune before turning back nervously to Cardin, taking an eerily familiar stance, and asked with obvious tremors in her voice.
"U-uh Cardin? Can I ask you something?"
Cardin's stance loosened even more, grin stretching to his ears in smugness. "What, want me to go easy on you?"
"What's your dominant leg?" she asked bluntly.
Taken aback by the abruptness of the question, Cardin blinked twice and answered slowly "Uhh… my right?"
"Oh! Thanks for clearing that up. Now I know which one to break!"
"Wha-" was all Cardin managed before she was upon him.
Jaune, still ass deep in a desk, looked up in shock at the maroon whirlwind that the classroom had become. Velvet was striking, in and out, cutting Cardin's armour to shreds little by little. A strike to the ribs on the left here, another thrust to the chest there, the shock of the attack had already given her half a second's advantage and she had put it to good use. Already a great deal of Cardin's chest looked like multidimensional sudoku puzzles.
Most shockingly of all to Jaune, it was familiar. Not just because she was using Crocea Mors, but she was using Jaune's style, just with a great deal more aggression and speed. His style had been perfected by a Bunny girl half his weight- Good god, did she just stab him with the point of the shield? and was currently using her mastery to kick the everloving shit out of Cardin, with that same Colgate-fresh grin.
He was both terrified and mildly aroused.
Occasionally he would see Cardin's mace, slow as a continent in comparison, trying to get him some ground, but every hit was parried or dodged with frightening ease.
Eventually, the fight slowed to human levels of comprehension, and Cardin stood, panting and swaying on the spot in the same way he'd seen Ren do after being left alone with Nora for the night.
Velvet contracted the shield and sheathed Crocea Mors before calmly walking over to Cardin, who seemed locked in a similar trance of silence to Jaune. "So." She began with absolute clarity, confidence, and that goddamn terrifying grin. "If anyone asks, Jaune did it. You try to tell Goodwitch, or whine to daddy about me, I might be expelled, but simply put, I won't unlearn what I just used to kick your ass. I'll find you Cardin. Okay mate?"
Cardin nodded hard enough to give himself whiplash.
She sighed. "You're a terrible liar, you know." She said softly before kicking him in his right kneecap. He buckled under his own weight, and Velvet uppercut his head as it crashed to the ground. knocking him out cold. Mt. Cardin fell to the ground with a satisfying thud.
She then calmly walked over to Jaune, still sitting in the remains of the desk, picked him up by his shoulder with one hand, gave his sword and sheath back to him pommel first and patted him on the back, with a slightly tired sounding but remarkably sincere encouragement of "Great teamwork, pal."
Jaune stayed locked in place until he heard the door shut. He then wiped the... It totally wasn't cold sweat off his forehead, and ran over to check if Cardin still had a pulse. For better or worse, no murder had happened at Beacon today, so Jaune steeled himself and ran out the door, seeing only a flash of a long brown ear down the corridor. He sprinted after it, almost skidding over as he turned the corner, and caught up to Velvet. He thought about grabbing her shoulder, but considering the Velvet Hurricane earlier, he settled on a classic, and one that possibly wouldn't result in her Judo-throwing him for surprising her.
"What the hell was that?" he said in a half-terrified half-awed voice.
"Oh, th-thank you for helping me get away from Cardin" Velvet said timidly, ears drooping apologetically. "I'm sorry I wasted your time…" Her smile was soft and small, posture submissive. However, her eyes didn't match the rest of her face, she still had that maniacal glint from the fight, even with the oh-so-innocent blush.
Jaune just stared at her, distrust evident in his every pore.
Velvet tried a look of innocent confusion, asking softly "Jaune, why are you staring at me?"
Jaune didn't budge or blink.
She sighed, apparently realizing this wasn't going to work, and grabbed him by the collar, dragging him towards closet, accompanied by the cries of Jaune "Wait, wait, I'm not old enough, I'm saving myself for marriage, NO-"
The door slammed shut, and Jaune staggered, losing his balance after straining under Velvet's recently loosened grip. She then opened the door a crack, checking to see if there was anyone else in the hallway. The hallway was cleared to her satisfaction, so the door shut once more.
The closet was long since used, to Jaune's left was a shrine to all things cleaning equipment circa 20 years ago, and on the floor were various bits of junk hastily thrown in by students, shell casings and bits of paper long discarded.
Jaune backed away into the furthest corner, tempted to bring up a Cross with his fingers.
She turned to him with a slightly subdued Grin, and asked brightly "Okay mate, what did you want to ask?"
Jaune looked close to panicking. "Velvet, what in the name of Oum-Almighty is this?!" he asked in terror. "How in hell did you do that? Why was it so similar to me? Have you been stalking me? Are you part Grimm? What-" He gibbered, until Velvet hushed him.
"Jeez one question at a time, Oobleck jnr." Velvet quipped, picking at her nails.
Jaune gesticulated wildly, before pointing directly at her with fear in his eyes. "THERE! That's exactly what I'm talking about!" Jaune finally managed to almost shout out.
Velvet just raised an eyebrow. "My… Blouse?"
"No, you're… confident… Which isn't to say that's a bad thing, it's really awesome that you've picked up some self-esteem or sass, dunno what's the term from outback menagerie but-" Jaune babbled, only to be interrupted again.
"Last I checked, my team's the one named after a caffeinated beverage, not yours. One more time, slow down." Velvet said placatingly.
Some of the fear faded from Jaune's eyes as he took a deep breath. He let it out in a sigh, and met her gaze.
"Okay. First question. How in the name of Ozpin's +10 cup of holding did you use my weapons? I mean, Sword-and-board is common, but I've never seen you use as much as a dagger. What gives?" Jaune asked, now looking more confused than afraid for his life.
Velvet giggled, probably at his fear. She could smell it, Jaune was sure. "Wow, the first understandable sentence, and a surprisingly simple question to answer. It's my semblance. I can Mimic fighting styles, once I've seen them performed. For example!" She reached over to an abandoned trashcan lid and, after a second or two of gauging, hurled it fast enough that it stuck out of the solid wood wall. Jaune's jaw, and a few of the abandoned cleaning supplies, hit the floor.
"That one's courtesy of your partner." Velvet explained quickly.
The gears were clicking almost audibly in Jaune's head. He picked his Jaw off the floor and addressed Velvet once more.
"Second question. Why did you let that Schmuck Cardin toss you around?" Jaune questioned with agitated curiosity. He seemed to be working himself back into a panic "From what I saw of you in there, you could have twisted that prissy boy into a Ginger Pretzel the second he laid a finger on you! Hell, why the docile, meek act? Are you hiding something? On illegal medication? What?!"
Velvet blinked a few times. "Okay, so the one question at a time thing isn't working for you, obviously." She said with a small chuckle. "I'll do my best to explain myself, but why don't we get some fresh air?"
Jaune, reaching critical panic levels once more, just nodded, and let himself be lead out into the hallway once more. That's it, I officially have no control over my life.
Velvet stretched happily in the late afternoon sunlight, letting out a small sigh. She looked back at Jaune warmly. Noticing his still troubled gaze, she sighed, and began to speak.
"Well, figures it's time for some answers. The whole thing with Cardin?" Her grin resembled a Jack-o-lantern. "I'm screwing with literally everyone."
Jaune blinked, and began to open his mouth in shock. He coughed, and began with "I mean… you are a rabbit faunus-"
Velvet stared at him, deadpan. "No, I am not literally screwing everyone. I mean I'm messing with them." She tossed a few strands of chestnut hair out of the way of her face, and Jaune noticed for the first time how silky and smooth-
NO. YOU JUST SAW WHAT SHE WAS CAPABLE OF.
He gulped, and averted his eyes to the vistas of Beacon.
Velvet began again. "So, the whole screwing with people thing. Hmm." She paused for a moment, before seemingly coming to a conclusion. "When you first met me, what did you expect? Even before I was bullied. Now, be honest with me."
Jaune squirmed in his spot, trying to find a set of words that wouldn't result in the Arc Line ending with him. "You looked… kind of out of place." he eventually managed to get out.
Velvet tilted her head, eyebrow raised. "How so?"
Jaune continued uneasily, feeling like a man tiptoeing in a minefield "Well, everyone except the newest recruit here has an air of easy confidence, Especially the later years." Jaune thought, thinking of one Ms. Adel, who recently fought in a Bathrobe and Crocs in front of a live (And adoring) audience. "You always looked like you doubted yourself, to the point where you didn't feel safe here. If I had to pick a single word, you looked... weak." Jaune chuckled uneasily. "I mean, I really… underestimated... you." His face slowly stretched into half admiration, half shock, and all realization. "Oh my Oum."
Velvet's grin widened at his expression. "Everyone underestimates me, until it's a bit too late." She boasted. "Hell, I've been doing it for so long I can synthesize fear. Even the Grimm think I'm afraid and weak."
Another realization dawned on Jaune like the sun on a clear morning. "Wait… I can understand that to an extent, but why were you dealing with Cardin for so long?" He asked in confusion. "I mean, I sort of understand why you pinned the assault charges on me, but still…"
"Oh, that's easier than the other questions." Velvet answered immediately. "You have to let someone build up an Ego before you crush it into the dirt."
"You speak like a woman with experience."
"Yep."
"You're pure, bunny-shaped evil."
"Oh, I know. I relish in it."
"And what's to stop me organizing with Cardin against you in a united front to prevent the rise of a Tyrant within Beacon?" Jaune asked, edging away from her slowly, preparing to ready his shield.
She giggled cutely- maniacally, I mean maniacally,
"Well…" She began. "If I can take Cardin that easily, I'm sure you can imagine what'll happen to you."
A loud, distorted screaming came somewhere from Jaune's Frontal lobe as he began trying to work a way out of this situation. Fight wasn't going to work, so Flight it is! He began to scramble to his feet, until Velvet grabbed his arm. He almost flinched at the touch.
"I was kidding, Jaune. No death threats today." Explained Velvet, with a half-lidded smile. "But, honestly? That's not even necessary at this point. Face it, the damage looks like it was done by your weapons and style, and well, you've had disputes with Cardin in the past…" Velvet continued on, "How about you cut me a deal, huh?"
This contract smelt of sulphur, but Jaune obliged for the sake of his life. He sighed. "Go on."
"How about we back up what Cardin says. You admit to beating the snot and ego out of the kid, and you suffer the consequences."
Jaune raised an eyebrow. "And why would I allow your evil to roam unchecked, let alone act as a scapegoat for you?"
Velvet huffed. "Fine, I'll make it a bit sweeter. You do realize what this means if you accept the blame for doing this, right?" She made a grand gesture towards the student dorms "By some miracle, Semblance, or skill, you've beaten a man who crushed a Honda Civic with his head. Not just that, you Annihilated him. Can you imagine how people will treat you from this point? Detention with Goodwitch has got nothing on the respect you'll command in the next session. And trust me," She said, pointing at herself, "It should be drastically obvious how someone's perception can change the outcome of a fight. After all, if you can go from pure shit to the shit in less than a few days… Who knows what you'll do to them?" There was that smile again. That evil, adorable grin.
He opened his mouth to rebut, but… It made sense. Holy crap, there wasn't an argument against it! If he'd had any issues with lying, he'd thrown them out the window when he payed for those transcripts. What was there to lose?
Her grin reached shit-eating. "Just look me in the eyes, and tell me that I've made your life worse by doing this."
He stared into the chocolate orbs of the School's resident playboy mascot.
And he couldn't.
Feeling like Faust reincarnate, Jaune nodded.
"Fine. Blame's on me, Miss Goodwitch."
Velvet simply stretched in the Sun again. "Thanks Jaune, I feel like today has been Cathartic for the both of us.
hr /
Yang suddenly had an urge to say the word "Cardin-thic" for some bizarre reason.
hr /
"Oh, one more thing, Jaune?" Velvet asked, innocently enough.
He groaned, and averted his gaze. "Oh god, what was the fine print I missed? Who am I gonna have to kill for you?" He asked Velvet, admitting defeat.
"Jeez, don't be so melodramatic, mate." Said Velvet, faking a wince. "While I can't say, 'Let's do this again sometime', since well, we don't need two first-years going to hospital…"
Jaune felt a tug at his conscience, which he directed towards a sign that read simply 'Cardin'.
"But just talking with you was cool enough. Figure we could hang out some more?" She asked, still lazily reclined on the lawns of Beacon.
Come to think of it, the whole experience had been an odd kind of relaxation. Fear of painful death had sort of removed the biting fear of failure for a little while. Eh, why not?
"Sure, assuming I somehow don't get Hung, Drawn and Quartered by Goodwitch for Cardin and the upcoming exams." Jaune asked. He tossed Velvet his scroll. "I don't know where your room is, so just leave a phone number or whatever Proxy you use to maintain that freaky alter-ego and I'll call that."
Velvet smiled knowingly at that.
After a brief bit of typing, he caught his scroll again, and began to walk back to the Study hall. Things seemed… just a little bit clearer now, less worries from Cardin thanks to a bizarre and lucky intervention from Velvet. Who'd have thought?
Wait, did he just agree to go on a date?
hr /
And that's a rap everybody! I've been at this story for what seems like half a year, fine tuning and re-writing. Hope it didn't pan out too much like a typical Jaune X Velvet stories, those hurt my soul.
I'm open to ideas on this, this initially was only meant to be a oneshot, but if you guys want to see more Strong!Velvet, then tell me what to improve on, and I'll give it my best!
Let's hope I won't be here long.