Ch. 2: Jonah II
Authors note: Again all advice is welcome. Where to go, who so-in-so gets with, all that stuff
As always Rwby belongs to Rooster Teeth
Jonah could feel the relief wash over him, there he was standing unharmed, Jaune was alive. Yet the look on Jaune's face said the opposite to Jonah's. No relief, no joy at seeing his father, and a look like he was in a nightmare. That was perhaps the first time Jonah could barely recognise his own son. As if Jaune had grown ten years in six months. He could still remember his little Jaune, and could only wonder if he'd ever be the same.
Jonah had never wanted the dangerous life for Jaune full of hardship and danger as he had. No rather he wanted Jaune to have a normal life and decide for himself. Jonah had been pushed into the military by his father Tytos, a cruel man obsessed with the idea of the Arc family and no care fro his real family. Tytos being a general himself made Jonah to do the same, and to live up to their long dead ancestors. Jonah wanted none of that for Jaune, he didn't want Jaune to cripple himself trying to be a hero, not spend enough time with his children, or nearly die several times for, "the Glory of the Family!" As Tytos had often put it. Jonah's wife Alena agreed saying she wouldn't push him to be a hero. He had missed out on so much for his heroism, barely being able to dance with his wife at their wedding, having to lean on a cane while they said their vows or not being able to run or wrestle with his children. Often not being able to see them for extended periods due to deployments, all for what? A badge, a rank and some crap idea of family honor, he would've given them all back to not have to hobble his daughters down the aisle at their weddings, or to play ball with his son.
So then with a crippled father who was often very busy, his mother having to do most of the parenting, and seven sisters around Jaune everyday, it was to no one's surprise he wasn't the most masculine of young men, and no one was more angry than Tytos. In Tytos eyes Jaune was the male heir of the family, and would pass on the name, sword and home. He had tried several ways to toughen Jaune up, only sending books about the military for christmas, or books on legendary Arc heros for his birthday to shame him into the glory. This always hit Jaune hard knowing his grandfather found him disappointing. So when Jaune asked Jonah and Tytos to help him get in to Beacon, Jonah was worried Tytos had gotten to him.
Tytos in contrast, was quite content considering his own father was a huntsman saying to Jonah privately, "at least he won't be a farmer. He may even die in battle with some honor, or maybe we'll be lucky and they'll make a man of him yet." Even agreeing that Jaune should carry the old family sword that had been collecting dust in the crypt.
Jonah was worried that Jaune lacked any real experience but Alena the heart of their operation declared, "you promised you would let him choose his own path, he's chosen. It's now our job to let him try and be there if he falls." Jonah and Alena made sure to tell Jaune that they loved him no matter what, even if he couldn't cut it at Beacon.
When the letters and messages came back full of improving grades, a bunch of new friends, sparring with a famous partner Pyrrha Nikos, and the leader of his own team: JNPR. Jonah nearly wept, and perhaps for the first time Tytos felt pride in his grandson.
Jonah looked now seeing the pain and fear in Jaune's eyes, surrounded by all of the destruction, and wondered if he made the wrong choice after all.
He found Jaune arriving in the safe zone defending a small group of police officers and civilians, and immediately demanded the first transport to Beacon. When Jonah explained they wouldn't be sending anything near that Dragon he for the first time and saw hate and desperation in his son's eyes. After a few moments of protests Ms. Goodwitch order Jaune to go with her to look for more civilians and that they would go together once it was safe. If looks could kill Jaune would have murdered them all, but all the same he relented and went off with his teacher. Still demanding that he would be on the first boat to Beacon.
Jonah pondered his son's change. As he prepared to evacuate all civilians from the city. It wasn't something he did lightly, but with the Dragon looming overhead he realized they had no choice. It was then that his soldiers pointed out that the tower's roof had been blown off. Just as Jonah looked up the Dragon landed on the tower, and a moment later he white light exploded from the ruined top of Beacon tower engulfing the Dragon. When the light finally receded the Dragon was no longer moving or roaring.
When Jonah and his men realized that the Dragon have been wounded in someone and they decided it was safe enough to attempt a rescue mission to Beacon. , and so Jonah began assembling troop and boats, ordering what air strength he had to make way through the avian Grimm. He held off on sending them till Jaune returned, justifying the delay by arguing they would have need of Ms. Goodwitch to retake the school.
Upon their return he he learned they saw what happened as well, and Jaune look of dread only seemed to grow. Jonah ordered the transports to depart, but he got a quick word with Jaune, the boy looked lost. He had gotten no word of his friends from Beacon for some time. Jonah finally asked, "Jaune what's happened, you're worried about your partner but she a skilled huntress, you told us yourself, she's probably fine. So what's got you so worried?"
"There was this girl who… she attack us and Ozpin told us to run," Jaune started, though Jonah could sense much was being left out. "We ran and then we saw that girl go up the tower meaning Ozpin... I wanted to get help like Ozpin said, go after her in force but Pyrrha, she… she sent me down into Vale and went up alone. I got some friends to go after her but…" Jaune was near in tears, conforming Jonah's suspicion that a lot had been left out.
Jaune's eyes were red, his lipped quivered, yet he also looked tired, as if he was both mentally and physically exhausted. His face covered in dirt, some small cuts covered his body, fresh scratches adorned his gear and his clothes torn and blood stained. 'His favorite hoodie too,' thought Jonah sadly. Jaune truly looked a mess, and probably felt it too,'the first battle and the first battle you lose a friend all in one, poor boy.'
"A commander of mine once told me, "the battlefield has no room for tears," remember that Jaune," Jonah told his son in a stern voice, "you may not have finished but your a huntsman, and this is battlefield so save your tears for tomorrow. Bury those feelings until the jobs done." Jaune looked up at Jonah surprised by the change, he did seem to hear but then simply turned and walked off 'What a foolish girl, maybe being a champion for so long had gone to the her head,' he pondered as the transports took off, 'I wondered if it was anger or fear in Jaune's eyes when he spoke of her.'
Two hours had passed since the first transports had left for Beacon, and finally situation changed. With the tower down many communication methods went down as well, thus runners were relied on to send messages. Runners went back and forth between the safe zones and outer defences, finally reporting that the Grimm threat had been mostly dealt with. The White Fang also flew off, but not in defeat. This had been their greatest victory yet, they left with the damage done to preserve their strength. The criminals sensing the moment had passed started heading back underground, though some had been caught or killed. Jonah had decided it was clear enough to head out and reinforce Beacon, as well as to evacuate the school, just in case the Dragon returned to life.
His leg was aching terribly as he stepped of the transport at the Beacon docks, and he hobbled towards a safe zone, and began issuing orders to establish a perimeter and sweep the area for survivors. Then he asked for his son one soldier said he saw him near the medical area, and directed Jonah to the nearest building.
Outside soldiers and huntsman that had minor or already treated wounds were sitting out, seeing no sign of Jaune made Jonah only more afraid. Inside was the more critical patients, he wandered through and no one moved to stop him and finally arrived at truly gut wrenching sight.
