Goodwitch's combat class
Blanc, Jaune, and Pyrrha had met three times a week over the last two weeks, working on the kata, and teaching Jaune about his semblance. Blanc explained to Jaune that he knew about his semblance because of what Ruby, Yang, and the others had told him in the future when talking about his father. Blanc was watching Jaune square off against Dove Bronzewing. Bronzewing had some skill with his blade, and good footwork, but at this point Jaune was matching him, and with the addition of the shield, as long as Jaune kept in close quarters, he was going to win.
Bronzewing made a misstep, and Jaune stepped into him, pushing Dove's blade away, then following up by hitting his wrist, causing Dove to drop his blade. From there, some quick slashes that Bronzewing couldn't defend, and Jaune won based on aura loss. Team JNPR cheered their leader, joined by RWBY. CRDL was less pleased, based on the glare Jaune was getting to his back. Blanc could tell Pyrrha noticed.
Tempting as it was to put CRDL on the straight and narrow, he knew it was a problem Jaune needed to solve, for his own self-esteem and stature. The problem was, Jaune wasn't the Jaune they'd picked on in the other time; he was more confident, more capable, and that made the situation less predictable. A microcosm of the problem he'd expressed to Ozpin; changing the past changed the future, and while that was what they intended, but made what he knew about that future less valuable. Stale intel, is what they'd called it when working on the plan.
The CRDL problem had been considered but the additional training had been necessary, so Blanc would keep an eye on it and make sure nothing went pear-shaped. It felt like babysitting, but he had to remember that they couldn't see what was coming; darkness had barely touched them in this golden age. Blanc shook himself from his stupor and packed up his things.
He entered the dining hall to find the resident bullies picking on a faunus. Her rabbit ears were too difficult to hide, and they'd apparently caught her without the rest of her team. He fought down the urge to interfere, only to find Jaune standing up. He was too far to hear what was being said, but he could tell based on the body queues that Jaune had confronted Cardin, and team CRDL was surrounding him. Pyrrha rose to join Jaune as the faunus left. As Ren and Nora began to get up as well, Blanc thought it appropriate to intervene.
He yelled across the room. "Cardin, a word if you please." The large man turned and saw who's called to him, then stilled. CRDL had been gearing up for a tussle with JNPR, but Cardin remembered his altercation with Blanc from the beginning of the year. "Ehh, fuck you. Let's go." The avian-themed team departed, and the room went back to normal as Nora and Ren returned to their seats. Blanc walked to Jaune, who was fuming.
"I had it handled. I didn't need your help, and I don't need you to fight my battles." Poking Blanc in the chest with his finger as he finished his angry statement.
"What you almost had was an unsanctioned fight between your team and theirs in the mess."
"It's not very dirty, and what are you talking about?" Jaune needed to work on being more observant.
"Jaune, your whole team was about to back you up in a fight you picked. Their loyalty is admirable, but your choice leaves something to be desired." Blanc got closer and began to whisper to him "We can't afford to get noticed. Win or lose, a fight in the dining hall between two teams is going to get noticed, and we need to keep a low profile, not have people looking into why you suddenly can fight."
"So, I'm just supposed to let them act like that? Because I can't." Blanc sighed. "This isn't a game. People will die for the mistakes we make, right here and now. She gets her ears pulled, you stand up for her, she doesn't learn to fight her own battles, and when the time comes, she falters and her team dies."
Jaune looked shocked. "That… that happens?"
"I don't know, but it might. She has to learn to stand up for herself. Back her up, but like you don't want me fighting your battles for you, you need to let her fight hers. And for fucks sake, don't pick fights with every little shit that starts trouble nearby. We need to keep our eyes on target." Blanc clapped Jaune on the shoulder. "We good for practice afterward still?"
"We'll be there. Um… I was thinking. Do you think Ren and Nora could join us? They've been bugging Pyrrha and I about where we go." Blanc knew he'd have to do it eventually, and this was a good opening. "Sure. Not every practice; and I'm not an instructor so I can't go around training everyone here. Tell you what, come by my room after lunch and bring them, and we'll talk; set up a schedule. I'll try to work out something for them. Frankly, they're already pretty good and I'm not sure I can help them."
"Don't be modest. Besides Pyrrha, you're the best fighter I've ever seen." Blanc blushed at his father's unexpected compliment, then turned a bit serious. "Jaune, I never saw them fight. I only heard about them a few times when I was young. Pyrrha and you use weapons I've specifically been trained to use and are learning techniques I was specifically taught to be able to teach you. I don't know much about warhammers or… pistol blades or whatever Ren calls those things."
"Ren calls them StormFlower. What do you mean you heard about us when you were young?" Nora popped up, bubbly and in their space. "Fucking hells, what are you doing? This was a private conversation, Nora." Blanc was freaking out, internally and it showed externally. How much had she heard?
"Well, Ren wheedled out of Jaune that you've been training him and Pyrrha, and we want in. And if you don't, I'll break your legs!" Blanc's wide eyed stare said he believed her. "Nora." Ren said calmly, having joined them. "Please, don't threaten our friends."
"Ohhhh kay… let's tone this down a notch. Jaune and Pyrrha will bring you guys by my place after lunch and we'll talk about it there, okay?" Pyrrha had joined them by that time, and asked "Won't you be joining us for lunch, Blanc?"
"Nah, I've suddenly got to do some research I hadn't expected on fighting with some different weapons." He said, glaring at Jaune, but somewhat jokingly. "I'll just whip something up in my kitchen.
"You have a kitchen? What kind of dorm is that?" Ruby inquired, startling Blanc. "How… why does everyone think my conversations are public discourse? My room is two-bedroom apartment. I'm the only person there, but I suppose I might get a roommate eventually. Is that weird?"
Weiss chimed in, from the table nearby. "It is for first year students. They're usually reserved for upper classmen and unmarried instructors." Blanc turned to her and gave her a forced smile; no one made him uncomfortable like she did.
Suddenly Yang yelled out "Party at Blanc's place!" and the hall began to empty with people cheering.
Blanc screamed "WHAT THE FUCK, YANG? NO. NO NO NO THERE IS NO FUCKING PARTY." Ruby looked at him with puppy dog eyes and a pouting lip.
"No."
"Please?"
"I said no. I don't have the food or the drinks." Yang chimed in "We can take care of that."
"I don't have the space." Pyrrha and Jaune had started to get nervous. Blanc was pretty upset; the man enjoyed his privacy. And really, his rooms weren't big enough for that many people.
"Too late! They're already going; all they have to do is look it up in the directory." Yang looked smug.
Blanc thought for a moment. "If they're all at my place, then the training area is going to be mostly free. Thanks Yang. They'll blame you for the lack of a party, and I just have to pick up my gear in my rocket locker." Yang looked startled at being outmaneuvered, but before she could get angry, Blanc had already started marching out of the room. "I'll see you guys there in an hour, ok? I need to work out some stress."
