Well, this is a present chapter again. I figured that after such a rather long (in comparison to my other chapters), flashback chapter I should show a bit more of the present time. I fear that this time the chapter is going to be rather short. But I assure you that the next chapter will be longer again (not sure when it will come tough.)
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PoV Jasper
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''Absolutely not.''
Jasper had expected this answer but he was not ready to give up so quickly.
''Please father, I know that I can do it. You know how good I am, you trained me yourself.''
But his Father's stern gaze did not waver. ''Yes, good at killing Grim but this is not about Grim, we are talking about other Humans here.''
''I can fight those as well, quite well in fact. Just let me show it.''
He would show him that he could do it, he would make his father proud.
''That is not the issue here, do you even know what this mission is going to be about?''
He made sure to recall all he had been able to figure out.
It would not do if his father thought that he didn't have a clue of what was going on.
''You are going out to destroy a terrorist cell. A bunch of Grimm worshiping cultists who sabotaged some big project, right?''
He could see his father nod, good, he had gotten it right.
''That is correct. They are cultists who have little care for their own well being. They are extremely dangerous and not something a hunter still in training should go up against if it can be prevented.''
Did his father think he could not do it?
He knew he could, he would just need a chance to prove it to him. ''Please father, I can do it. Let me demonstrate it to you.''
But his father just shook his head again. ''I know that you are strong but you are not ready for something like this yet. Why do you want to come along so desperately anyway? You have vacation right now, enjoy your free time.''
He wanted to tell him but held back, it would look childish.
''Please just let me come along, I promise to be careful.''
But his father's conviction did not waver.
''No, I have made my decision. You will not come along on the mission and that is final. Look, I am not angry at you or anything but that is simply still over your head, okay?''
Jasper could only nod sadly at this. He knew that his father only wanted to protect him, he just wanted to show that he did not need the protection.
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PoV Weiss
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Weiss had just returned from making sure that Scolius was asleep when she could hear Jaune and Jasper argue with each other.
Not wanting to interrupt them she decided to listen in while staying out of sight. After their argument had concluded she decided that she would need to speak to Jaune who obviously didn't understand their son's behavior.
And it seemed like Jasper did not feel like explaining either.
After their son had left for his room she turned around the corner.
''Shouldn't it be clear to you why he acts that way?''
Jaune looked surprised at suddenly seeing her appear in his view. ''What do you mean by that?''
''He wants to prove himself.''
But Jaune still didn't seem to understand the whole situation.
''But why? There is no need for him to prove himself.''
''Maybe, but he is still a teenager Jaune. Do you remember when we were that old?''
She saw an amused grin appear on Jaunes face.
''Of course I do, Snow angel.''
This caught her off guard, it had been quite some time since he had called her that. Contrary to her younger selfs opinion, she didn't mind it at all anymore, but she would be damned before telling him that.
From the look she could see on his face he may already know.
''Shush you. I was talking about how we all acted, especially you. Do you still remember why you acted this way?''
Jaune took a bit of time before answering.
''Well, I wanted to be a Hero, you know, prove that I wasn't just some loser. I mean, I always grew up with those stories of my ancestors, so I felt like I had to show that I could be just as great as they were.''
''There you have to it, he is the same, he just wants to prove himself.''
But this only made Jaune look confused at her. ''But why? He has nothing to prove. He is different from me. Where I was lacking skills he is already a good huntsman. There is no reason at all for him to feel that way.''
But Weiss was sure that she was right.
''Really? Just look at his parents. Me, Head of the probably most influential family in all of Remnant. You, a great war hero, same as Ruby. He just wants to prove to you that he can live up to all of that.''
Now Jaune seemed to understand.
''Was that why he was so desperate to come along on my next mission? Because he wanted to prove something to me? But why doesn't he try the same with you then?''
Weiss sighed, sometimes he really was still as obvious as he had been all this time ago.
''Do you remember the talk we had with him, about Ruby?''
''Of course I do, but what does that have to do with this?''
''It's because you are his real father.''
She could see that he wanted to speak, so she held her hand up to show him that she wasn't finished yet.
''I do not mean it like that. Obviously I see him as my son, you know that. And I know that he also sees me as his mother, but that doesn't mean that he forgot that Ruby existed. And I wouldn't want him to either.''
''And not only that, you are the kind of person he is trying to be, a great hero and warrior that is not afraid of anything.''
Now she could see him raise his eyebrow.
''You are stronger than me.''
Hearing him say that Weiss smirked, she was proud of her skills.
''That doesn't matter. There is more to being a Hero than just being strong. I never lead anyone into battle during the war, you did.''
Jaune didn't seem to agree with her. ''But that was only because James helped me, he taught me how to properly do that.''
It was as if he wanted to hear her point it out to him.
''But you learned didn't you? They are not telling grand stories of what I did during the war. They are telling of James, of Ozpin, of Ruby, of you. He probably is scared that he can't live up to that image, that you would be disappointed.''
''How could I be disappointed? Look at how good he is. Ozpin told me, he and a few other students managed to kill a deathstalker during initiation.''
''We killed one as well... and a Nevermore.''
At her words, Weiss could hear Jaune chuckle. ''This is not a competition Weiss.''
She gave a slight huff, he obviously didn't understand that this was a matter of pride. ''But if it was we would have won.''
Still, an amused smile on his lips Jaune continued the conversation. ''The point is that he is already a good hunter. How could he think that I do not see him as good enough when he is at the top of his classes when at his age I was-''
''Writing bad songs?''
''... Trying to catch up with you guys.''
She waited for him to show approval of her joke but it never came. Damn him, she knew that she was funny. Still, she should probably get back on topic.
''That doesn't matter now. Do you really think anyone still cares about how lacking your skills were back then? If you hadn't told him he probably wouldn't even have assumed that it was that way. And that probably made you seem even more impressive in his eyes, how much you were able to improve when you tried.''
But Jaune just shook his head.
''I improved so much because I had to. With everything that was going on, I couldn't afford not to. But the times have changed. That is exactly what we fought for, what we are still fighting for. There is no great crisis that will force him to grow up quicker, he should just enjoy his time at Beacon.''
''Then tell him that. I know that you think that it is obvious but to him it isn't. Tell him why you act like you do and make it clear to him how you feel.''
Jaune seemed to think about it for a bit before finally smiling at her.
''You are right, I just need to talk with him and make my intentions clear... you are enjoying this, aren't you?''
She couldn't help but continue smiling smugly at him, she loved being right after all.
Jaune just shook his head good naturedly. ''Well, I should take off, I have a talk to have.''
At this it was her turn to raise her eyebrow. ''Did you forget how late we have?''
Jaune looked sheepish, it seemed he really had.
''He probably went to sleep after he went into his room. Don't worry, this can wait until tomorrow''
Seeing him nod she continued.
''We should probably make our way to the bed as well.''
But he just waved her off. ''You go, I am not tired yet.''
A smirk made its way on her face. ''Neither am I.''
Jaune just looked confused at her until it finally clicked.
''Oh, right, of course, the bed it is.''
And with those words he swept her off her feet and carried her to their bedroom.
Sure, their son's problems were an important matter to her but now it was her turn to enjoy Jaunes attention.
And she would make sure that this part of the evening would be a lot more enjoyable for the both of them.
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Well, that was it. Like I said at the start, this time the chapter is rather short (the shortest chapter in this fic actually) but I didn't really want to draw this stuff out. After all those problems are supposed to be just normal problems and making them really hard to solve would make them appear much more serious then they are supposed to be. But like I said, the next chapter is going to be longer again. I am not sure yet though if it will be another flashback chapter or one set during the present of this fic.
Lastly about Scolius. As you probably already guessed he is the brother Jasper mentioned in chapter 1.
As always every review is welcome, as is critic.
This chapter has been beta read by Murphy Sl4w.