Some semblances are oft crafted by the soul of the person, yet some are shaped by the experiences of their owner. In that case it can be either a blessing or a curse and for one Jaune Arc, when captured by the White Fang, he learns his Discompose certainly seems like the latter.

Pain is Merely a Touch Away.

By

Hibiki

Imagine you could have the rights to RWBY, but for the rest of your life, you would have to clean up every mess or problem created by every Rooster Teeth 'Million Dollars, But..." challenge accepted. Would it be worth it? Not for me.

RWBY is created by Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth.

Next Chapter: To Disturb the Composure of; Disconcert

(-o0O0o-)

The sun had just finished setting when, fresh from the shower, Jaune laid down alone on the large bed of his new room. His laid there looking at it's blank ceiling wearing nothing but some pumpkin Pete's boxers and a small smile. It was one of his few guilty pleasures that had sprouted after his time with the White Fang. Given the need to cover up constantly to keep the worst of his semblance at bay, the resulting counter could only be achieved with the benefit only a large empty room could produce. It was weird but being naked, or at least as much as he was willing to be, was freedom. One that he didn't often get to enjoy anymore. Blake was settling in the other area on one of the three beds situated in the regular dorm room, leaving him to think about things.

So here he was at Beacon. Honestly he had hoped to become a Huntsman before the White Fang, given his dream had been to save people and be a hero to the masses like his forefathers. After his time spent with the radical group, that dream had changed slightly. While yes, he still wanted to be a Huntsman, Blake's influence had molded a slightly more narrowed view. People could and would be saved, but it was the inequality that he would fight. To give the suffering of those that could not speak for themselves a voice that had become his goal as a huntsman. To remove the issue that had created the current White Fang so no one else would ever end up like him. To keep another from a lonely cursed existence. Jaune's smile faded. The empty room did little to improve his mood now and before he realized it he was reaching for his scroll and dialing a number, opening the scroll wide for a video call.

"Jaune?" His smile returned as he was greeted by the face of his mother.

"Hey mom." Juniper's expression was happy, but he could see the gathering of tears in her eyes. Behind his fading smile his heart broke and a familiar feeling grew. Regret.

"Oh my baby boy! H-how are you? How is... H-how..." Juniper's calm facade quickly broke down, and Jaune knew why. No matter how much she loved him, his mother was terrified of touching him after his return home and the... Accident. She never got near him unless he was covered head to toe. This was the first time she had seen his face completely free of coverings in a year. "I-I'm sorry. I-! I just m-miss... Miss being able to SEE you like this in person, to take you into my arms, t-to hold..." She looked away as the guilt she had been trying to hide when he had been home came breaking forth. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!"

"Mom. M-mom!" His throat itched something fierce as he spoke to get her attention, and he was blinking away tears of his own. "I understand. I... don't hold it against you." He felt more guilt at lying and even more horrible at feeling colored of his mother's actions despite it was beyond her control. "How is everyone doing?" Juniper took the out gracefully, trying to push past the pain they both knew was keenly felt. She quickly pushed back her guilt and tears behind her usual cheerful self, quickly dabbing at her eyes with a well placed tissue.

"Y-you're father is trying to keep the girls happy, they miss their big brother and sister." Jaune had to smile a little at that thought. One would think with seven other females (their mother and six other siblings), the Arc girls would have hated another around, but shockingly the introverted and quiet dark haired girl was well accepted by his little sisters. Many of the Arc sisters sneaking into Blake's room to hear the cat faunas read out loud some of her, thankfully less racy, books before Juniper chased them to bed.

Blake truly had become a part of the Arc household in her own very Blake way, his sisters who he pointedly refused to be near for a while, his friend had become his only conduit to them until they learned the gist of his semblance. It was lonely existence, feeling like mealtimes were to be the only time the entire Arc clan could be found near him. It rarely felt much different with him still hidden away in those many layers of cloth, unable to reach out and even take a hand for comfort. For a young man who had grown up in a large loving family that was the truly most painful thing of all. "So... tell me about Beacon."

Jaune gave a small sigh, hoping that sometime in the future when he gained complete control of his semblance, that gulf that had developed between him and his family could be removed. He began to talk about his day, unknowing that in the room over his friend was doing the same.

(-o0O0o-)

"So how is Jaune taking Vale and Beacon?" Kali Belladonna was nothing if not nosy, her daughter thought to herself.

"He had a small panic attack in Vale and then again on the airship to Beacon, but he seemed to be doing fine once he was here." Hmph, more than fine. Her, for the moment, uncovered ears flicked in agitation at the thought of him talking to all those other girls. Kali raised an eyebrow at the action but continued on her train of thought.

"That's good. It gives me hope that one day you both will be able to come down and see your father and I." Blake nodded, knowing the urge was just as great for her to visit home and see her mother and father. Yet, the thought of leaving Jaune alone hurt her in ways that made the pain of missing her family not nearly as riveting as it had been moments prior. Blake gently nodded.

"Yes. I'm hoping that Professor Ozpin can help him. If everything goes well, I can see if he would be up to it. He's interested in seeing Kuo Kana."

"Dear, I've talked to the boy. He's interested in anything that means something to you." Blake's cheeks reddened at the not so subtle accusation. Her mother's other eyebrow rose to meet the other seeing her normally composed daughter's hackles raise.

"Mom!" She all but hissed.

"Blake." Kali's expression turned solemn. "I know that you two met in... unfortunate circumstances." It was as close to the whole 'My daughter had been part of a terrorist organization that tortured and killed people.' she was willing to broach at the moment. "But I have to wonder how you feel about him." Blake's ire was replaced with confusion.

"Why?" Blake's voice wavered.

"Because that young man gave your father and I our daughter back." Blake looked away as her ire was replaced with shame. "He got you to call us, to reconnect with us and while that made us so happy to know you were okay, it worried me." Blake looked back, confounded. Her parent explained.

"You have always been so determined to do everything on your own. Even when you where a child, the moment you learned to walk you were off doing your own things. When Ghira and I did our rally's you would be there with a sign you had made and saying what you wanted. You've always been very self reliant, much to your mother's concerns." Kali laughed a little at the remembrance and Blake felt a little embarrassed at the frank opinion of her past actions.

"However," Kali soon refocused and her following words chilled Blake's blood. "The only time this changed was when you went off with Tarus after Sienna took over from your father. Those words you spoke that time were so unlike you, so angry and spiteful. It was as if Adam was talking through you-." Kali was cutoff as Blake responded vehemently.

"Jaune is nothing like Adam!" Blake all but shouted, before she calmed and looked to the door separating her from her partner. After a moment she quietly returned to the call. "He isn't. Mom, even after everything he had gone through, he wasn't worried about himself, about hurting those that had hurt him. All he worried about was his family... about me! He knew that I was miserable about how I left you and dad, he didn't stop until he found a way for us to talk. That's just who he is. He's sweet, honest, caring! He's nothing like what Adam turned into, so please! Please don't ever think of Jaune as the same as... him." Kali looked wide eyed a moment then gave a large smile.

"I'm glad to hear that. That sounds like my Blake." Blake smiled happily at seeing her mother's expression. "And I'm very happy see that you love that boy the same he does you." Blake's face turned the color of a certain reaper's cloak as she sputtered.

"MOM!" Kali laughed at her daughter's distress. "I... I d-don't..."

"Blake, don't run from this." Blake shivered, looking to her lap in frustration. "You may not be ready to hear this, but it's obvious that Jaune means a lot to you. I like him. Even your father likes him. I've had the opportunity to speak with Juniper and Nickolas, the Arcs all adore you. No one you know will say otherwise if you two decide on becoming more. The only people who are keeping you two from each other is each other."

"What if Jaune doesn't think that?" Blake looked up. "How can he, Mom? I was the one. I was the one who captured him, I gave him to Adam. I'm the guilty one! Me! If he had never met me, he never would be suffering like he is, and don't say he isn't."

"I know, Blake. But we don't know that if you hadn't been there if Jaune would still be alive or not. We can't dwell on what if's. All we can do, is move forward. That's what he is doing, day by day. Because of you, Jaune has a chance to get better. A chance to one day live a normal life and it's because my little girl took her own path and did what she felt was right."

Blake nodded, even if deep down she wasn't certain she could believe it all to be true.

(-o0O0o-)

Jaune looked up from his scroll, still staring at it even though his conversation was long done, as a soft knock interrupted his contemplation.

"It's open, Blake." Jaune did nothing to cover up as the girl entered the room, she had seen him worse. However, as the soft moonlight crept through the window showing her in her Mistralian styled pajamas, the beauty of his pale skinned friend was apparent. He soon noticed her scroll in her hand.

"Mom says hi." His friend announced. He held up his scroll in reply.

"Ditto." She smiled and walked over, sitting beside him, her hand reaching for his shoulder. For a moment he froze, worried that his semblance would kick in, then relaxed moments later when her soft hand graced him. Almost instantly his arms wrapped her up and pulled her near him. Her other hand wrapped around his torso as he held her.

"She cried because of me." He muffled into Blake's shoulder as he hugged her for dear life. "I hate that."

"It's okay Jaune. We're here so it won't happen again." He seemed to calm as she ran her hand down his back, both of them long since use to the myriad of scars that ran under her comforting embrace. "Ozpin will help us, and when he does... maybe you'd come visit home with me?" Jaune's blue eyes met her amber ones with a surprised look, leaving her feeling a bit vulnerable at their close proximity. "Mom, mentioned it, given Dad's job he can't really leave so... Maybe your family would like to come down and meet mine?" The surprised look changed into of a subdued understanding.

"Right, the family." Blake wondered about the pause, though forgot it as he leaned back onto his arms. The change in position made her head lean against his chest, her ears listening to his heartbeat as her own raced. "It's a nice thought. The girls would love to see Menagerie." Blake made a muted noise of agreement, fidgeting in the odd position.

"Lay down." He quirked an eyebrow, but did as asked. Blake resumed her previous spot, this time with a smile.

"Better?" He asked, getting a nod that made her faunas traits tickle his collarbone. He reached out and began to gently run his left hand through her hair, getting a soft coo of contentment from Blake. "Good."

"Mm, you'll put me to sleep if you do that." The opposition to him continuing was weak and they both knew it as he continued.

"I won't mind, it's nice sleeping with you." Her ear flicked at his words as his eyes widened. "Uh... next to you. I mean, you know, not like that, not that that probably wouldn't-uh, please ignore me?"

"You're lucky this feels too nice to have to get up and hit you." She snuggled closer, pulling up the cover over them both. He resumed his action and she felt the day catch up to her. "I'm just... going... to take a... a nap." She yawned gently, closing her eyes.

"Goodnight Blake." Jaune softly uttered, feeling the same pull to Morpheus that she did. Incoherent mumbling was the reply.

The two drifted off to sleep, for Blake it was as close to a surrender that she would allow her feelings, for Jaune, a night free of his nightmares with only a pleasant dream of the girl in his arms.

(-o0O0o-)

It was another horrible night for him. The fires of knives and blades broke him from his unfruitful rest. Bloodshot eyes stared out into the night, his hand shaking so hard he was spilling more of the liquor than he was drinking, not that it had been helping dull the feelings. Throughout the camp the older members of his troops, those who had not lost themselves to the pain and ended their lives now groaned and whimpered as they too tried to sleep. However those on duty watched the trio walk calmly forwards their leader with only mild disdain.

"What... what do you want, Fall." He growled out, subtly pushing Blush hard against his shoulder to make real pain stronger than the hallucinating one his mind could not forget. The woman's eyes glowed ominously against the moonlight.

"I want to know just who has this power that has hurt our business partner. My employer has been very interested in the man who can cause this much disorder ever since you told us."

"I'll give it to you. But... erng... you need to give me something." The green haired girl seemed to shirk back as one of his fighters snapped her own antler off, screamed in a mixture of pained laughter and hysterics then proceeded to use the antler to stab at her heart. She was quickly restrained but the damage was done, not even unlocking her aura would save her. "I don't care what you need him for, but when you are done, I want his head... in a box." Adam stood up and walked forward towards the crazed deer as she began convulsing. "Give me that, and I will tell you everything you need to know." He turned back to the woman, his other troops behind him now. His aura burned red, filling the world with it as he unleashed Wilt with all of his warped semblance. The girl before him was obliterated, as acres of land behind her. Wilt returned to Blush and he turned back, the pains seemingly vanished for the moment.

Cinder smiled and Adam took that as an agreement.

"His name is Jaune Arc."

(-o0O0o-)

Next Chapter: Initiation in the Emerald Forest.

The titles will now be standard as the sort of 'intro' into this story is done.

AN: Boy oh boy this went a different path than I had in my head. I was originally going to have it be the Emerald forest initiation and such but then throughout the week I learned a friend's mother is dying of stage four cancers throughout her body (listen to the Green Lantern explain to Inara Sara what he is dying of in Deadpool and that list is accurate) and has at best two weeks, and another acquaintance's brother finally died of stomach cancer after fighting it for ten years. So yeah. Anyway Some interaction with the mothers, and I'll be honest, I don't know if Menagerie ever had the ability to use the CCTs, but hey for this to work I'll just say, F*ck it and say they can. Mrs. Arc's... arc isn't done. None of it is. Kali has been the most supportive of mothers in RWBY we have seen thus far, and often the most inquisitive so I in some ways can see what I wrote here. Also wow a lot of people thought I was going to have Blake and Jaune boink this soon? Spooning in bed cute and awkward like yes, taking the job of our resident bad ass bunny and pumping out kittens no. And we see that behind the scenes things are just going to get much much worse for them all.

BARN has been accepted as the team. Does this stand for Barn, like a dusty reddish brown or Barren, as one reviewer Noroi mentioned, similar to STRQ a white? You decide.

Reviews:

Guest: 'Jaune doesn't have motion sickness.' … Okay... ?

Disturbed911: Harems are too complicated. Honestly I was just making sure Jaune is still Jaune. The goofy heart of gold knucklehead. However this Jaune is more like V4-5 Jaune. There is a darker and more serious side of him. He like everyone here has faults. To be fair I don't know if I can pull off too long of a burn on a relationship, however this has more potential pitfalls than a tomb raider game given the way these two are getting together. They are sweet now but what happens in an argument and words start flying. A room alone might not be enough if he looses control of his semblance.

Noroi: Hmm. Barn or Barren. That's a good thought. As you probably saw in the AN I'll let you all figure out if you want barn or barren.

Eramis8: Familiar but different is what you should strive for until you can effect a major change and tangent I feel. Not everyone is on the same page about the rooms, which not only gave me something for ever the stoic Goodwitch got to poke fun, it was also a jab at a certain group whose blonde got together with one's sister and their leader? Somehow I can't see the sheets in that dorm being all that STARK by fourth year. wink wink nudge nudge. How Pyrrha plays into this is going to be interesting. Initiation comes soon.

Surviversp: Thank you for the review!

Cat Poster: Uh I dunno about lemons, that will be time coming if so. Also Dark souls what?

The-lost-memories6: We'll see about kittens or the like for the time being. I'm glad it's interesting, hearing that keeps me writing.

Stumpy: Them having their own room would make sense, and it was on the table for me, but the whole interaction with others would fall away. I would be afraid of, as you said, shoehorning in nothing but the romance and no plot really and basically the story would revolve around them in their room. As for pointing out their relationship? Uh no you and a few assumed that she would be sleeping in there. *looks at the chapter* Uh all the time. No that's to help/harm Jaune as the story progresses. As for Discompose; The name was sort of an accident that I realized fit so I kept it. I'm sorry you are worried that the story might not be your cup of tea but hey I hope it's interesting enough for most.

X3runner: Trust me I know her quip at Ruby backfired worse than in canon. You know this, but this Jaune probably wouldn't even notice Weiss if this Blake was in the room. You are very correct, Blake isn't just worried about other girls being around him in a romantic sense. She's worried about being tossed aside. It's true, she has seen the worst of the White Fang already, so her finding out they were stealing dust would probably seem trivial. Blake being the leader would also help a certain red head need more... outgoing people around like team SYRN. Thanks for helping me see another point. Glad you liked the last chapter hope you liked this one too.

NinjaFang1331: Thanks