Chapter 7
Day 1
This is my journal now.
I don't know why I'm doing this. Well, I kind of do, I guess. I just can't handle... everything. There's so much. But mom told me that journaling is really good when you're overwhelmed, so why not try it?
Mom… I miss her so much. It's something you don't really appreciate when you're a kid, you know? Even when times are rough and the world is scary, you can more or less rest easy because deep down, you believe your parents will take care of it.
But mom's not here now, and I can't even see her. I hope she's doing well. And my sisters, and my dad. I hope they all are. Blake said they were alright. Would she lie? I don't think so. But I don't know anymore.
It's been two days now, since we got expelled. Honestly, I went to sleep that night half expecting that it was all a bad dream or an elaborate joke, that in the morning a miracle would undo the whole facade. Obviously, it didn't happen. We weren't even allowed the chance to say bye to everyone.
They moved us into an apartment off of Twelfth and Commune. It's a pretty nice place, all in all. A little small: there's only one bedroom and bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room, but there's nothing really to complain about. It's furnished, at least, and I know that some of the breeders don't get even that for a few days, if the administration falls through. They probably were told to take good care of us because of Ruby. Anyways, I think they figure that since there's only two of us, we don't need more room. As we… fulfill our duty, we'll move into bigger living spaces as needed.
I still don't know what's going on, in that regard. Glynda wanted to give us time until Ruby turned eighteen, but we're out of her hands now, and I doubt that Ironwood will be willing to do the same. I haven't heard about any changes, though. Haven't heard anything at all. All we can do is wait.
::-::-::
Day 4
Still haven't heard anything. The caretakers come twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Supposedly it's to drop off food and other supplies, but it's pretty obvious they're really watching for signs of dissent. We're not allowed to leave without permission. Ruby tries to request time for personal training, but she gets shot down a lot, and even when they allow it she has to take an armed escort with her. I wonder what they think of us: the two crazy kids that tried to rebel. I doubt it's favorable.
I'm going kind of stir crazy. I think I'm supposed to get a job, but any time I ask they tell me that the "administration is working on it." I'm not allowed to pursue anything on my own, of course. I've read every one of the books in the house (not that there are many), and now I'm out of ideas. If something doesn't happen soon, I'm going to go insane.
::-::-::
Day 6
I can't stop thinking about Beacon.
I didn't want to do it at first, but now that I look back, I realize it was an amazing opportunity. And I just… wasted it. I guess I tried, to an extent. It was frustrating always failing. But still. I could have done more, a lot more, but I didn't see the point.
Well, I see it now. But it's too late now, isn't it?
Ruby's gone whenever she can manage it, and even when she's around we barely talk. I don't blame her. It's just so… awkward, being around each other. She probably hates me. I mean, let's be real. "Naive attitude" isn't enough to get a huntress with amazing potential expelled. She was just collateral damage from my failure.
Beacon was her dream school. And I took it all away.
They only gave us one bed, so I just sleep on the couch. I can't handle the alternative.
She didn't deserve this. Didn't deserve getting stuck with me. An absolutely useless–
A relentless pounding on the door startles me from my thoughts. I stash my journal in the drawer of my desk in the bedroom before dragging myself up, the vestiges of my black mood dragging my feet down like lead blocks. It takes monumental effort merely to make my way to the door and heave it open, and the face that greets me on the other side adds insult to injury.
He's a dour, grizzled man caught between middle aged and elderly. One fat cigar perches in the corner of his mouth, although thankfully it remains unlit. A jagged scar blazes down his craggy face as if drawing attention to the monstrosity. I don't know his name, but I've seen him before. He's one of the caretakers assigned to us, and he's the worst of the lot. Grumpy, harsh, and uncompromising.
"Can I help you, sir?" I ask. It takes herculean effort to prevent sarcasm from coating every word.
He thrusts a single, nondescript envelope at me. It's thin and light, containing nothing but a single paper document, but I don't even need to read it. Just the words printed in neat, blocky letters across the front are enough to send an involuntary chill down my spine.
Certificate of Partnership.
The final nail in the coffin. There's no escape now.
"You have six months to commence your duty," the man barks. "And the general was generous to give you even that much. Should you fail to initiate of your own free will, you will be forced to comply." He allows his coat to fall away from his hop, revealing the lethal gleam of a sidearm. The rest of the threat goes unsaid, but the intent is clear. "I suggest you do it yourself. Spectators make for an awkward affair."
"Thank you, sir," I grind out between gritted teeth. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
He sneers at me before pivoting and marching off, leaving me to fume alone. I'll have to tell Ruby, once she's back.
Yeah, that's not gonna be fun. "By the way honey, I know you hate me, but we have to, you know, start making babies within six months. Care to start now?"
Not to mention she's still a kid. I don't even know if I can do this.
::-::-::
Day 9
I told Ruby, but she didn't cry or scream or rant or anything. Just nodded with a quiet "ok" and walked off.
It's really scary. She's nothing like how she was at Beacon. I really don't know what to do. I mean, I get that she hates me, but refusing to talk to me isn't helping at all, you know? If she's not going to be open about how she feels… well, this is going to be even more awkward that it already is. And it's pretty awkward.
I should probably say something, but what? "Gee, sorry for ruining your future. But don't worry, you'll have a kid soon!"
Yeah. That'll work.
On the bright side, I got some more books. I've tried reading a couple, but it's hard. I spend most of my time doing… actually, I don't even know what. Staring. Outside, at people, whatever. I could read, or try to join Ruby on whatever trips she goes on, but I don't really want to. Don't have the energy, which is kind of funny, because I sleep like all the time.
Maybe I'm sick?
I asked about jobs again. Still the same answer. Maybe it's better that way. I'm not ready.
::-::-::
Ruby's out again, doing I don't even know what, so when there's a knock on our door I assume it's her. The caretakers don't knock like that. They're abrasive and aggressive, with big, pounding blasts like they're trying to smash the door down. This one is poised and rhythmic. Maybe she forgot her key?
It's not Ruby.
It's actually someone I never thought I would see again.
"Weiss?" I stammer, floored with surprise.
Seeing her out of both uniform and combat clothing is jarring, like seeing something entirely out of context. Although she's kept her signature tight ponytail, a grey pea coat and white stockings under a short white skirt in lieu of her normal uniform or combat dress leave her looking far more, I don't know, vulnerable I guess. Like a normal girl out on a cold day instead of the impeccable killing machine I'm used to seeing.
"Hi, Jaune." Even her mannerisms are out of place: she glances around timidly where there would normally be confidence, hesitation where there's usually decisiveness. "May I come in? It's a little cold out here."
I open the door wide and gesture for her to enter. She steps in and I shut it behind her, the sound eliciting a relieved sigh from her lips.
"I didn't know you even felt cold," I tease. She glares at me response, and there's a rush of nostalgia at the familiarity of the exchange.
"I'm human too, believe it or not." She glances around my apartment, disapproval intensifying with every second. "This is all they gave you?"
I shrug. "Can't really complain. It's big enough for two. Ruby's not in right now, by the way."
"Just as well," she sighs. "Seeing only you again is hard enough." She must realize the implication of her words, or maybe a shade of the hurt I feel reaches my face, because she rushes to clarify. "I didn't mean it that way! I'm happy to see you. It's just… both of you at once, I… well, I… ugh. I'm no good at this."
"How'd you even find us?" I ask, sensing her discomfort. "We're supposed to be off the radar."
"SDC connections, of course," she explains, as if it was the most obvious thing in Remnant. "And it was still hard to find you. I started searching the moment I heard you'd been expelled, and only got your address two days ago." Her face twists into a grimace. "And even then it took more than a few favors to allow this meeting at all."
"Why?" I whisper. My throat constricts without warning, and I'm stricken by an overwhelming wave of emotion. Come on Jaune, get it together. Crying here would be so lame. What's wrong with you, anyways? "Why did you go to so much trouble?"
Weiss hesitates. "I was worried about you, actually. And, well, we're friends aren't we? I wanted to make sure you were ok. Besides… it's partly my fault you're in this mess."
"What do you mean?" I ask, eyes narrowed. If this is some convoluted conspiracy involving SDC political status or retribution for befriending Weiss, I swear…
"The training room, remember?"
… Or that.
"What about it?"
"I made you fall. What if that was the last straw, and that's why they expelled you?"
"With my horrible grades, I don't think it mattered one bit," I chuckle mirthlessly. "But while we're on the topic, why did you do it?"
"I got excited, honestly," she admits with a slight flush. It's so unexpected and uncharacteristic that I find it extremely endearing. "You two were doing so well, so I just wanted to ramp up the challenge a little. To see how you would handle it."
"Not well, unfortunately."
"It's my own fault. I pushed you too fast. That's it, though. No ulterior motives."
"I believe you," I reassure her. "Although the aftermath was a bit awkward."
"Getting expelled?"
"Nah. The immediate aftermath."
Her hesitation evaporates with the onset of a sly smile. "You mean falling on Ruby? You two were pretty cute. What, you didn't enjoy it?"
So she did notice. Jerk. "No," I state firmly. "I didn't. She's a kid, Weiss. She's cute like a kid. Nothing more."
"She's only two years younger, Jaune," Weiss says, suddenly solemn. "And she's your wife. You can't just–"
"Enough," I interrupt.
"Jaune–"
"Enough!" I roar. "I'm done with this conversation!"
She glares at me, but nothing more. "Fine then."
I'm not going to apologize, if that's what she wants. If I don't want to talk about something, that's well within my rights. "Did you come just to chat?" I continue, as if the disagreement had never happened. "Or is there something else? Not that there needs to be. It's great just, you know, talking. And stuff."
"There is something else, if you're interested. You've yet to receive a job, correct? I might be able to set you up with something."
"Thanks, but I don't exactly need money."
"But you can always use money," she insists, a businessman's daughter to the core. "The administration only covers expenses for necessities. Besides, aren't you bored by now? It'll give you something to do."
That's very true. Besides, until just a day or two ago I was begging for the chance to work. Maybe forcing myself to do it will pull me out of this random lethargy. "What did you have in mind?"
"It'll be easier just to show you," Weiss says. "There are a couple of possibilities anyways, so I'll walk you through them. You might even be able to get a job at SDC, if you want it."
"Maybe," I evade. "Not sure though."
"That's fine." She gestures towards my shoes. "Get dressed. We're going out, and it's pretty cold."
"I can't leave," I inform her. "Procedure and all. They'll arrest me if I try."
She rolls her eyes. "Who do you think I am? I got permission already, obviously. Now hurry up. I only have today to relax, and I don't want to waste it waiting for you."
"Yes, yes, your majesty," I grumble, pulling on a coat and my shoes.
"Stop calling me that," Weiss says, but it's mere ritual at this point, and she shoots me a wry smile. "Your nicknames are awful."
Ruby suddenly pops into my mind. "Hang on a sec. Let me leave a note for Ruby." It only takes a moment to leave a hasty scribble on a scrap of paper. I'm not sure where else to put it, so I just leave it on the table. "Alright. I'm ready,"
"Then let's go."
::-::-::
Founder's Plaza is only a few blocks from my apartment, and Weiss leads me down the streets in a direct beeline. Abruptly, however, she swerves down a side street, taking us into a far quieter sector. Where Founder's is bright, colorful, and state of the art, these buildings are muted and traditional, but there's a kind of steadiness that hangs in the air, as if the structures themselves could be trusted.
They feel familiar. Like old friends.
Have I been here before?
It's when we pass a cozy house of antique wood and brick that I remember. Of course. It was a while back, but I used to come here all the time with Blake. That house was our favorite. We used to guess what kind of people lived inside. I wanted to go up and knock, once, but she was even more cautious back then than she is now, and I wasn't brave enough to do it alone, so it didn't happen.
Never thought I'd be back.
As we continue down the street, the familiarity intensifies with every step, eventually culminating at the steps of a building that I know without even looking at the flowing gold script on the windows.
Tukson's Book Trade.
Blake's favorite childhood bookstore.
"How did you know?" I whisper, momentarily overwhelmed by memories. A tiny hand clasped in mine, golden eyes roving the streets, and myself leading with confidence I didn't feel. Musty old tomes mingled with the crisp scent of new print, with heavy rain beating relentless fury across the tiled roof. The easy comfort of a home away from home.
But most poignantly of all: a gentle giant of a faunus, who allowed a terrified kid and her unlikely friend to stay however long they wanted, whenever they wanted.
"I did my homework," Weiss says, a bit smugly. "I figured you wouldn't mind working here."
"Tukson's hiring? I thought he ran the shop himself."
"We wouldn't be here if he wasn't."
I glance at the windows and walls. Row after row of books are visible even in the dim lighting, but there's no sign that help is wanted.
Hang on. Weiss mentioned she had to call in some favors, before. What if our meeting wasn't the only thing she had to negotiate?
"Weiss," I ask through the tight lump in my throat. "I don't think he's hiring. Did you… did you set this up?"
She rolls her eyes and gives me a slight push from behind. "Shut up and go talk to him."
My hand moves on its own to grasp the cold bronze doorknob, but goes no further. Blake and I, we never said goodbye to Tukson. Once we hit high school, it got dangerous. Human and faunus tensions ran pretty hot, and I didn't want to bring any trouble to him.
Still, I should have at least popped in to let him know. Does he still remember me? Or worse, what if he does, and he resents our disappearance?
Maybe this is a bad idea. Weiss said she had several options, right? I shouldn't commit to this so soon, without seeing what else is out there.
"You know," I protest, "maybe we should check out the other stuff first, just to be safe–"
"Absolutely not," Weiss overrules me, and emphasizes her words with a firm shove to my back. "You are not allowed to get cold feet now. Go in immediately or I will make sure you regret it."
"Aye aye, ma'am." With no way out of it, I take a deep breath and enter.
It's exactly as I remember. Stacked bookshelves are crammed into a cozy room, and warm lighting casts a pleasant glow across ages both crisp and worn. A pair of armchairs encircle a crackling fireplace. Blake in particular loved that spot, and I caught her curled up in one of the chairs like her genetic animal more than once.
"Well look at that. It really is you."
A deep, rumbling voice reverberates behind me. I turn to face it, half longing, half dreading.
"Tukson," I choke out. "Uh, long time no see."
"It's been a while. Good to see you." He tactfully chooses not to mention my sudden absence, a small gesture that I am intensely grateful for. He nods at Weiss, who stands a respectful distance behind is. "She your girlfriend?"
At that, she steps forward with a small curtsy. "Weiss Schnee. I'm just a friend. It's a pleasure to meet you in person."
"Ah. The SDC girl. I was surprised when you contacted me. Didn't think you were fond of my kind."
"An unfortunate reputation of my family, it appears."
"But perhaps well deserved," Tukson finishes. He peruses Weiss with a critical eye. Evidently he is satisfied, because he gives her a respectful nod. "You seem alright though."
"It's been quite the journey," Weiss replies ruefully.
"You're a friend of Jaune's, so that's a plus in my book." He turns his attention to me, and there's not a trace of hostility or resentment in his gaze, but I feel sweat condense across my brow. "Heard you need a job."
"Yes sir." I still can't believe this isn't a dream.
"I might be able to help you out with that." He nods towards Weiss. "Your friend here took care of a lot of the details. It's not terribly exciting work, though. Ordering books, helping customers, organizing the shelves and the like. You sure you want it?"
"I would love it," I reply without hesitation, and I mean every word.
::-::-::
Day 18
Turns out, getting a job means the caretakers leave you with a lot more freedom. They still watch me, of course, but during normal work hours I'm allowed to travel the town without an escort, at least.
I told Ruby, both that I got a job and that she might want one for more freedom, and for the first time since we were expelled she looked excited. It didn't take her long to land one herself. I think she's a courier or something? I should probably ask, but now that we're working we see each other even less. Other than mentioning it, we still haven't done anything about our civil duty. I'm planning on putting it off for the full six months, or at least as long as I can.
Tukson is a pretty laid back boss, and the few customers we get are pretty much all pleasant and self sufficient. I'm starting to recognize the same faces. When there's nothing to do, we spend time talking and catching up on each other's lives. Apparently Blake hasn't come back to see him either, which makes me feel a little better about myself. He says the job's boring, but I find it more relaxing than anything. It's nice.
It's pretty much a break from the rest of my life.
I still don't know what to do about Ruby. Maybe I should just apologize or something, but it's just so weak. How can words make up for what I've taken from her? Besides, she's really avoiding me, so she's only making it harder.
I just wish there was some way out of this mess.
::-::-::
I'm behind the counter of Tukson's Book Trade when the chime of bells signify the entrance of a customer. Although the stacked books prevent me from getting a clear view, the bright yellow hair that pokes above the obstruction marks the owner as a new customer. The ones I know all have dark hair.
"Welcome to–" I begin to call out, but cut myself short. Right. Bad habit. Tukson says I have to make eye contact with customers. Shouting from the back is no good.
I maneuver around until I come face to face with him. He's a tall faunus with an infectious smile and shining blue eyes to compliment his hair, and an open white shirt shows off a set of killer abs. He's definitely not someone I would expect to see in a bookstore, but who am I to judge?
"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade," I recite, "home to every book under the sun. Can I help you?"
"I'm actually not here for books," he replies, "but a friend of mine wanted to say hi."
I glance behind him, but there's no one there.
"Uh, is he here?"
"Not he," the faunus corrects, "she. And yeah, she's right behind you."
On cue, I feel a familiar light tap on my shoulder, and even before I turn around I know that a pair of golden eyes will be waiting for me.
"Boo," Blake deadpans.
I can't keep a wide smile from breaking across my face. "No way. How did you find me too?"
"A friend of yours might have dropped a tip," Blake says. "A pretty chill friend."
"I'll have to thank her."
"You should. She's not what I would have expected, given her family. You got lucky that she's not like the rest of them."
I nod in agreement. Very lucky indeed. Weiss has given me so much more than I can ever give back.
"Hey, so uh, before you two go all philosophical on me," the gold hair faunus interrupts, "you mind introducing me?"
"Jaune, Sun. Sun, Jaune," Blake says, putting no effort into sounding even remotely engaged.
"I'm Jaune Arc," I offer a hand to Sun, biting back a chuckle as Blake's dismissal drops him into an exaggeratedly mournful posture. "Blake's oldest friend. Or one of them, anyways."
He clasps my hand in his own, his grip firm and warm. "Sun Wukong. I'm Blake's partner in the White Fang."
"And that's it," Blake comments. "Work partners. Nothing more."
I quirk an eyebrow. "Nothing more?"
Sun sighs. "Not by choice, let me tell you. I keep asking her out, but she shoots me down every time."
"And complaining about it to anyone who will listen is not helping your chances at all," Blake snipes.
"Yeah, I feel you, man. She's a handful." Against my better judgement, I go along with Sun. I'm rewarded by a brilliant, boyish grin.
"I know, right? If I wasn't so thick skinned she could have really hurt my feelings by now."
"If you two don't shut up," Blake growls, finally sounding irritated, "I will hurt both of you. Badly."
"Yes ma'am," we recite in sync. "Sorry ma'am."
Yeah, I'm going to get along with this guy just fine.
Drawn by the sound of our conversation, Tukson pops out from the storage closet he had been cataloging books in. He doesn't outright smile when he sees Blake, but I've spent enough time with him to recognize the subtleties of his emotions. His eyes crinkle in a way that only happens when he's really happy.
"Well if it isn't my favorite kitten. It's been a while. You're a lot bigger now."
Blake rolls her eyes, but her quivering ears betray her true emotions. "Hi, Big T. Sorry I never dropped by. High school was a mess."
"So I hear," he responds with a nod to me. I filled him in on some of the details during our chats. Not everything, though. That was a bad time. "Don't worry about it. It's just good to see you again."
"Wait, wait, wait," Sun cuts in. "Kitten? Best. Nickname."
"Big T gets to call me that. No one else does. Especially not you."
"Back to the drawing board, then," Sun mourns. "I really need a nickname for you."
"I'll help you out," I chime in. "I've been told I come up with amazing nicknames."
"Oh yeah? Got any ideas?"
"Uh," I stall. "Fuzzball?"
"Kind of offensive, don't you think?"
"Hmm. Good point."
"How about Goddess of Shadow?" Sun offers.
"No, no. Too long and too…"
"Edgy?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"Alright, that's it." Blake grabs Sun by the shirt and begins to bodily drag him towards the door. "Too much stupidity in one place. We're done."
"My new brother," Sun cries out. "Save me!"
I deny him with a remorseful shake of my head. "Sorry bro, no can do. She'll just kill me too, but don't worry. I'll honor your heroic sacrifice."
"I don't need honor! I need heeeeelp!"
"Bye, Big T," Blake calls out once they're halfway through the door. "I'll come back sometime. Without this idiot."
"See you then. Come anytime."
"Blake, hang on." At my words, she shoves Sun outside and turns back in the doorway, leaving us with at least a facsimile of privacy. "Seriously, I'm glad you're ok. Thanks for dropping by."
Away from prying eyes, she offers me a half smile. "Same for you. I wasn't sure what happened to you once you got expelled." Sun must be behind her, because she lashes out with her foot without warning, drawing a cry of pain from her unfortunate partner. "Don't worry about me," she continues unabashedly. "I'm in good hands. Like I've said before, the Fang take care of their own, and Sun makes up for his intelligence with his combat skill."
"I dunno," I tease. "He seems pretty smart to me."
"Of course you would think so."
I let the insult slide with a wry grin. "See you around, Blake. Stay safe." Or at least as safe as you can in the White Fang.
"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to me."
::-::-::
Day 47
Life seems to be settling, somewhat. Honestly, I can't believe how fortunate I've been. I have work that I more or less enjoy, friends that are able to drop by often, and so much else. As an aura wielder. It's mind boggling. All that's left is to work out everything with Ruby…
I've tried to talk to her a couple times, but I keep chickening out. Like, I open my mouth and no sound comes out. It's pretty bad. I mean, yeah, we've talked, but it's awkward small chatter. You know, about how our days went and how work was and everything. Nothing really meaningful, though. It's like getting expelled drove this massive chasm between us, and I don't know how to bridge it. Maybe it can't be done.
It's getting worse, too. I can barely even look at her now, because every time I do that stupid training room accident keeps popping to mind and I just… don't want to deal with it. Any of it. Not now. Not when I still have a few more months.
Some things just take time, right? Like, there are natural ups and downs to life. It's hard right now because I'm just not ready. but I will be, someday. I'll do it then.
Weiss comes over almost every weekend, but most of the time she just drags Ruby out to do whatever girls do on their days off. Honestly, it's better that way. She can help Ruby out more than I ever will. And hey, while they're out doing girl–things, I've got plenty of books to go through now thanks to Tukson.
My favorite series at the moment is about a peerless female champion who falls in love with a dense, hapless, but well intentioned knight. Something about the knight is just easy to relate to. He feels kind of familiar.
The caretakers are backing off, too, at least a little bit. I think they've realized Ruby and I aren't planning to rebel, so they're not as worried about controlling us. Or who knows, maybe Weiss scared them into giving us more breathing room. Or maybe Blake did. I know a couple of them are terrified of the White Fang, and she's good at intimidating people without saying a word.
I dunno. I expected this life to be really hard, but it hasn't been too bad.
Maybe everything will be ok.
A/N:
BOOM. Five days, and my longest chapter yet. The change of setting helped me a ton, apparently.
Also, the huge response to last chapter was a great motivator, so thanks for all the reviews and PMs and such!
You know, if this wasn't Lancaster, I would totally make it a Weiss/Jaune fic. They have an easy chemistry I really wasn't expecting. Maybe Jaune isn't so crazy in canon after all.
There was a wide range of reactions to Ironwood last chapter, which is awesome. Just like real life, dealing with complicated issues leaves room for a lot of different opinions. I will say this, however, for those who hate him (or felt I murdered his character): he has a large part of the responsibility for what remains of humanity resting on his shoulders. The hunter system works, more or less, at least for the majority of people. Anybody trying to break it is, in his view, jeopardizing all of humanity (and faunus, actually).
Just something to think about.
Oh, a random note. Some of you reviewers seem to believe that you have to wait a full week after the newest episode comes out in order to watch it. If you go to the RT website, though, you can actually watch it the day after (Sunday for me), even for free. You just need an account, but not a subscription.
