I know this may surprise some with such an update so soon but I couldn't resist continuing this little story as it my appeal to my tastes in some ways.
Anyways, thanks for the support and expect much more of this.
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A Needle in a Haystack:
Jaune has found out that he possess the extraordinary aura. But, when his world somehow gets worse than it already is, how will he react? But it is at his lowest when a savior comes with a deal he can't say no to.
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Jaune sat in a stark white room, again.
After that disaster at the party Ironwood had called in every aura expert and cutting-edge scientist she knew and trusted and set about finding if Jaune truly did have an aura.
One pistol whip to the head confirmed that.
After that he was detained and swarmed by an endless mob of scientists. Somewhere along the way the secrets had been leaked and Jaune could hear the chattering masses of reporters outside the military base clamoring for more information. Jaune could only grimace in disgust, the way they stepped on eachother just to ask simple questions that Ironwood would never answer.
It would have been funny if it wasn't so pathetic.
He heard the click clack of heels coming down the hall from outside the hospital-like room. Jaune had changed into a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt bearing a worn logo of a shamrock on it, he didn't have a whole lot of time to collect his things before being whisked away. Jaune closed his eyes as the sounds of heels got closer, his parents had been ecstatic when they learned their son had the only aura of a male in history.
Oh yes. The promise of power and wealth had nearly quadrupled over the last week or so, where before his marriage to the Goldmines was a welcome use of him, now Jaune could be the very thing that could send the Arc family straight to the top. I mean, hell, they were already going down in the history books as the only family ever to have born a son that could use aura!
Before the Atlas personnel whisked him back to whatever godforsaken place they were taking him, his father wanted to have a "man-to-man" chat about how important he was now. He found that funny for the sole reason he didn't really consider his father that much of a man, more of a trophy with a cardboard personality that someone he should look up to, and far from the realm of people who could lecture him on his duty.
"Jaune, you have an important role to play now!" his father said proudly, puffing his chest out to seem "Extra" manly.
Tic tic
"You have been chosen by destiny to lead the Arcs into a greater future! So you should be quite compliant with all the requests General Ironwood and her colleagues ask of you, and don't worry we and your sisters have been given permission to see you every once in awhile when time allows." he finished as he put a reassuring hand on Jaune's shoulder.
My god, even when he could be considered the most important male in history all he was good for was serving others and making the family look good. Floyd did not question him when he took several bottles of hard liquor from the kitchen nor did he ask about the dreadful nosebleed Jaune had going for him when he returned.
"Mr. Arc? It's Dr. Howl." came the soft voice from outside the door. Ah yes, Dr. Howl, the leading scientist in aura experimentation and the head researcher for what was now named "Project Y". She seemed friendly enough he supposed, but it would be a cold day in hell before he trusted her; he could see it well, that maniacal fascination that all the doctors and scientists had when they studied him. Yeah, he was going to drop his guard for a second.
"What." he responded shortly.
She entered wearing her usual Atlesian doctor's uniform that seemed little different from an officer's. Clipboard in hand she addressed him, "Mr. Arc we need to run a few stress tests on your aura levels real quick."
"Go ahead." he replied in the same gruff tone, not even sparing her a glance as he zeroed in on the white walls. If she seemed offended she did well not to show it and proceeded to hook his arm up to some monitor machine that would gauge his aura levels.
Pressing a button, the various rubber patches on his arm as well as the black brace began to exert small shocks and pressures that seemed to fluctuate in intensity. Jaune grunted in discomfort and Howl stepped in.
"Good. Good. Your aura levels are truly something extraordinary Mr. Arc. Far beyond that of even some professional huntresses, in fact, we've begun to theorize that perhaps the dormant aura in males is naturally for palpable in size and intensity." Jaune just tuned her stupid ramblings out, every day it was like this: wake up, eat, experiments, experiments, experiments, and finally some wooden words of encouragement and some bleak praise before leaving him to sometimes cry alone in his small dorm.
Ever since becoming a lab rat for these doctors, a lot of experimentation was done on his aura and semblance both in the theoretical and the practical. It was discovered his aura reacted to negative emotions output by Jaune, and used it to draw electrical energy from the surrounding area, and with some of the more angry moments, develop thunderstorms that become completely under his control. Jaune can supercharge his muscles increasing his reflexes and speed, but also use it to simply vaporize whatever is in front of him. His semblance was aptly titled "Electronegativity" and many tests were done of its uses and restraints.
"Also you should know, Mr. Arc, that you are being expected to release a press statement later today." Jaune's had snapped to her so fast there was an audible crack in his neck, "Don't worry, we've prepared clothing and a speech, all you need to do is repeat what's on the notecards and you'll do just fine."
The tension was thick and heavy in the room, and Dr. Howl could feel it. "Don't tell me you're afraid of crowds ha ha he he..." she trailed off as Jaune's head jerked slightly every few seconds.
tic tic tic
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Later that day...
Jaune stood on stage left, safely behind a curtain as his helper, secretary person or whatever adjusted his tie and looked at him with a smile.
"You're going to be just fine, just remember to read of the notecards." he said, stressing the end as Jaune nodded woodenly. It was just a brief appearance, but he was supposed to be the unveiled hero of the male world, and possibly the key to defeating the Grimm themselves!
Sure. Or, in other words, he would be stood up on that stage and shown off around the world like some carnival freakshow and everyone would just eat it up, Atlas gets the good press and the Arcs become famous.
Yeah. That's about right.
"Good luck champ." you know, for an Atlesian dog, his secretary-guy wasn't half bad. Atleast he had a sense of humor. He shook his head as the curator of the event -some officer or something- announced that Jaune himself was here to make a statement. He also asked that they hold off questions as Dr. Howl would be able to answer them better. That was Jaune's cue as he strode out across the stage floor to excited cheers and clapping, maybe even a wolf-whistle if he heard correctly. He swallowed another grimace and put on his best plastic smile.
He walked up to the podium where his coveted notecards awaited. He took a second to get situated and looked up into the crowd as he began.
"Hello. My name is Jaune Arc and, yes, I'm the first male in history to be born with an aura. I discovered my gift a little over a week ago at a party I was hosting, at this time we're unsure but we also believe they may have found my semblance. Fortunately, General Ironwood was there to keep me safe and provide... M-Moral support as the Atlesian council has been given full custody over my research. I am... grateful for such an opportunity and have been c-counting my blessings as the staff here have provided me with some e-excellent care-"
His face began to tic more and more as he read off these fake lines. Ironwood? Moral support? What were they smoking? He'd rather be hanging from the rafters instead of being trapped in this hellhole.
"*Ahem, excuse me. The research is going well and I have been told that I will be integral t-to the annihilation of the Grimm threat. I'm truly... truly grateful for my family and Ironwood, who h-have helped me through these trying times." Jaune grit his teeth as he audibly choked out the words. His face felt hot and he could feel the rough tugging along his face and eyes, if any of them could fully see his concealed face they would of thought he was about to go postal.
"Y-Yes, there is much to be discov..." he trailed off as he fully took in his surroundings, a sea of eager reporters recording and an armada of cameras from around the globe trained on him. More rich and important folk scattered around along the edges of the stage, the front of the crowd, and in some stands above. Suddenly, almost without any conscious thought, Jaune's face was ripped in a snarl. Canines bared he gripped the edges of the podium before, with a sharp grunt, knocked it over with a howling crack as notecards went flying and reporters backed away.
Silence reigned in the area as people stood dumbfounded, Jaune looked around and accidentally caught the eye of someone near the back clad in green, well, everything. She quickly turned away to sip from her mug, as if nothing was wrong.
Jaune head tugged roughly, snapping his head to the side and that was his cue to leave, he walked briskly off the stage where the same officer and a small squad of soldiers awaited.
"What was that! Do you know what-" she whispered roughly before being cut off.
"Ironwood, where is she."
"Not now, you need to-"
"Where!" he shouted, the officer looked taken aback before mumbling something about the stands above. He waded went to cut through the small crowd of soldiers as chatter began to return and Atlesian PR representatives tried to reign in the scene, one soldier grabbed his shoulder only to be sent to his ass as Jaune pushed her off.
"Don't you fucking touch me." Jaune hissed venomously, face still running rampant with tics and the like. He walked away stiffly as if he was made of wood as his head still jerked slightly, staff and officials got out of his way as he made for the back entrance to where the higher up stands would be.
He clambered up the metal staircase as he heard the door open behind him, two soldiers tailing him to make sure he didn't try anything but smart enough not to be on his back. He entered through another door marked "VIP ONLY" in big, gold lettering and found himself in a room with a few councilwomen, Ironwood, Winter, and the green woman from before.
"Mr. Arc." Ironwood began before Jaune marched up to her and grabbed her by the front of her pristine uniform.
"Where do you get off acting like some kind of goddamn angel sent from above?!" Jaune demanded as the lights flickered slightly, Winter took notice and her hand came to rest on her saber. Jaune caught the movement and jerked his head to look at her-
"Try it, I dare you." she seemed apprehensive as the two soldiers following him bust down the door, guns aimed and set to stun. With a wave of his hand Ironwood calmed them down and looked at Jaune.
"I understand Mr. Arc, I was against doing this but the council members wanted this press release as soon as possible. They sent me the notice hours before you were informed of it, so I am not to blame." she said, throwing the two councilwomen in the room to the wolves, or rather wolf in this case.
Jaune shoved Ironwood roughly, sending her almost to the ground but luckily Winter caught her superior in time to balance her. The two suited councilwomen back off slightly as Jaune loomed over to them, a thin coat of white rising off him. The lights flickered and there was the faint sound of electricity sparking from within the walls.
"You did this?" they tried to sputter out some reply and Jaune closed in, a murderous look embedded in his blue eyes.
"Mr. Arc, before you fry our dear council members, may I offer a deal." one again Jaune's had snapped over to the speaker, the green woman from before who stood there nonchalantly sipping her coffee.
"Who are you?" Jaune spat angrily.
"I am Headmaster Olivier Ozpin from Beacon academy. I want to offer you a deal I don't think you'll refuse." Jaune nodded slowly, this woman seemed crafty, and dangerous not exactly someone to let your guard down.
"Ironwood and I have been talking along with the council in Vale, and we would like to offer you a place in Beacon Academy." Jaune chewed on that for a moment, there were a few things wrong with it.
"Who said I wanted to become a hunter?"
"Well, that was inevitable. The Atlas Council was going to enroll you in Atlas next year anyway." Jaune turned slowly to look at the two council members, back into a corner and desperately searching for a way out.
"What I offer, is you come to Beacon under the tutelage of some of the finest huntresses in the world, you stay for 4 years, and, regardless if you graduate, you will be given full autonomy over yourself and your future." she said, taking another sip of coffee.
"You have no right Headmaster! Jaune Arc is in the custody of-" one of the councilwomen began but was cut off as Jaune jutted a finger out at her.
"You shut the hell up." he growled, a singular arc of blue electricity coming from one of the lights and landing on his outstretched finer, blue webs of energy coiling and ebbing out from the point where it struck. The councilwoman backed off and remained silent after that.
"I have little training in fighting, I doubt I'd make the cut when compared to other, more advanced applicants." he reasoned to Ozpin who nodded her head.
"True, but this year's applicants have already been accepted so that means you must wait until next year to become a full student. In the meantime, I will contact some friends of mine to train you in the art of fighting if you will allow it." Jaune hummed at that, he didn't trust this woman but her offer was certainly better than his current living condition.
Plus, by the time they trained him, if he wanted out there'd be little they could do to stop him.
"Ok Ozpin, I guess I'm interested." He said coyly, Ozpin never really reacted instead just sloshing the coffee in her mug and taking a sip. But what he didn't see was the small smile she had as the mug was raised.
"I'm happy to hear it Mr. Arc."
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So a slightly shorter chapter but one nonetheless. The next addition to this fic will not continue this story but may or may not be a fan submission so if you suggested one, please come back and read!
Thanks again and stay cool.
XOXOXO
CoffeyJoe
