Sparks cascaded across the stage as Jaune spun away, flicking his blade out just enough so that Pyrrha's stab is redirected and harmlessly sinks into the arena floor. She pulls out her blade and spun once before resetting her stance, Milo's tip pointed at Jaune. Jaune twirls his blade idly smiling.
"Well? Come on." He says.
Pyrrha eyes narrow but Jaune can see the excitement flowing behind them. She rushes and throws Akouo straight at him. Jaune jumps over and with a quick flip, slams a kick into Akouo, imbedding it in the ground. Using the slight push off from the shield, Jaune twisted over Pyrrha's slash and landed behind her. He lashed out with a kick which she avoids with a roll forwards toward Akouo. Jaune skips back sheathing his sword and drawing his bow. He grins as he pulls back on the string with no arrow in hand. Suddenly, a pure white arrow forms, notched and ready to fire; he launches it with deadly accuracy.
Pyrrha wrenches Akouo out of the ground (with just a bit of her semblance to help) and she swings it - as if bunting a sword strike away. The arrow hits Akouo and explodes with the force of a heavy punch at close proximity. Pyrrha skids back but is immediately in motion, stowing Akouo and shifting Milo into a rifle. Jaune and Pyrrha hop, dance, and skip across the stage, firing at each other and avoiding projectiles. Jaune ducks under the last bullet in Milo's chamber and - with a mutter and a quick flash of Prana - is blurring towards Pyrrha at almost Ruby-level speeds. Pyyrha barely manages to shift Milo when she is bodily tackled around the waist and Milo flips out of her hand.
There are several wolf-whistles as Jaune manages to trap Pyrrha under him, almost straddling her as he pulls out a dust crystal knife.
Before she can even flush at the position, Jaune has the dust crystal knife glowing under her chin, "Best you give up now Pyrrha."
She lets out a huff of surprise as he pants heavily.
"I think this is a draw." She teases, grinning.
Jaune laughs, feeling the blunt edge of Akouo pressed against his stomach.
"I don't know, I can take a shield bash and survive, can you handle a stab?"
She considers this and huffs, "I still think it's a draw."
"Whatever stops the tears at night, Pyr." He replies, catching his breath as he gets up.
The lights glow bright as they get up and collect their weapons and Glynda gives them a compliment. They get off the stage and Jaune grins, it wasn't really challenging at all, but it was fun to fight against Pyrrha again. He had faced her when she had tons more experience and frankly acting like he was a first-year was both a blessing and a curse.
Yang slides up and throws an arm around both of them, pulling Jaune just a bit closer than necessary, "Well, well, well bird-rider, you do have some moves! Color me impressed!"
Ruby and Nora bounded up to them, Ren, Blake, and Wiess a step behind them.
Jaune shakes his head in amusement, "I was hoping to keep this a secret, but I was lucky."
Pyrrha laughs, "Were you now?"
Jaune mock scowls and sticks his tongue out at her, "I hadn't known you needed to reload at that moment, you shifted to sword form only because you were out of bullets. That slight gap in the fight gave me the opportunity I needed - you probably would have hit me with a bullet otherwise - I was charging with skill thrown to the wind. Besides, I tackled Pyrrha with no coordination, I might as well have body-slammed her."
"You did." Pyrrha said.
"I gotta say you could feel the tension in the air as you straddled her!" Yang practically chirped, "You should try that in our next spar bird-rider, I might just reward you if can knock me down!" she said flirtatiously.
Jaune flushed and sputtered incoherently.
"Yang!" Pyrrha and Weiss said indignantly.
Jaune eyes wandered away from Yang slightly, "I think I'll just keep up the run away tactic I normally do."
Yang grinned before she let go of Pyrrha and pulled Jaune close to her face, "Oh bird-rider, I'll just catch you and then we'll see some sparks fly!"
Ruby managed to separate them, "Yang! Stop flirting with Jaune!"
Yang let out a boisterous laugh while Jaune scratched the back of his head with a somewhat-sheepish, somewhat-embarrassed smile, "Aw Ruby, don't worry, I'll still hang out with you, even if I start dating someone. Besides, I am sure Yang doesn't mean it."
He didn't notice Yang's lilac eyes narrow slightly and turn a shade redder while Ruby looked depressed for all of a millisecond before stuttering a denial.
He also didn't notice all the rest of the girls stiffen.
Blake smoothly cut in before Ruby could finish, "I thinks it's about time we went to lunch."
Jaune ate the last forkful of his salad into his mouth and chewed it slowly.
"Are you sure you don't want to eat more Jaune?" Pyrrha asked a frown on her face.
Jaune sighed, "Pyrrha I know you're worried, but seriously, I'm just not someone who eats a lot."
Pyrrha relented, "Fine... it's just -"
Jaune cut her off with a warm smile, "I know, and I get it. I'll be fine, besides I have most awesome group of friends ever looking out for me!"
The group at the table laughed.
"We are awesome, see Jauney says so!" Nora cheered.
Pyrrha hid her smile as the laughter faded, "Jaune..."
"Pyr," Jaune did his best attempt at a pout, "Don't hide such a pretty smile, makes me feel like I don't deserve to see it."
Everybody began to laugh again as Jaune chuckled to himself.
"Arc."
Everyone turned to look at the new person, laughter almost instantly fading.
Jaune turned, there was only one person who referred to him as that, "Hello Winchester, what can I do for you?"
Cardin stood next to Jaune at the end of the table. He was shifting his weight from foot to foot slightly. Jaune's friends eyed him, CRDL had stopped bullying for sometime now, and that was confusing the heck out of the rumor mill. People speculated why, but they weren't coming up with any answers, at least ones without teachers.
Cardin seemed to be warring with himself, he seemed to be chewing on the inside of cheek," Iwantyoutotrainme!" he burst in a rush.
Jaune blinked and everyone else jaw dropped in shock.
Cardin Winchester was asking for help from another person? And that too, Jaune Arc?
Everyone had seen the slight tension between the two, though only Jaune's closer friends knew that Jaune had been keeping a speculative eye on the Winchester heir.
Jaune expression became thoughtful, "Cardin we both know you're not to type to usually ask for help. What brought this on?"
Cardin looked uncomfortable, "I just... you are strong and you know how lead a team. I figured I might as well ask."
Jaune gazed at him and watched him shift a bit in discomfort, before chuckling.
"Alright, I think I can give you a hand." Jaune replied.
Cardin visibly brightened.
"But, I have rules. I will allow three strikes, each strike with a punishment, and I will refuse to teach you anything." Jaune said voice sharp with command.
Cardin grew wary.
"No Faunus discrimination, I don't give a rat's ass what you were taught or told, Faunus are people too. All because human in general are bigots who can't get past a few differences, that doesn't excuse the way you have been acting. Leave your prejudice at the door or you walk away right now."
Cardin scowled, but nodded stiffly. The lunchroom was silent as a grave.
"I won't argue with you, when I am trying to tell you something, you can disagree and voice it, but I will not let you dissolve a lesson into a shouting match. You want my help, you have to show the proper respect."
Cardin nodded more easily at this.
"I won't be doing work for you, I will help, but you can't just keep asking me to help with your problems."
Everybody in the cafeteria stared at Jaune as he rattled off rules and what Cardin could or couldn't do.
The bar was rather loud and boisterous, with people hollering and making fools out of themselves. In a quieter corner, Simultus held a glass of wine up to his face and took a draught of it before setting the glass back on the table. He checked his watch and at that moment a man walked inside the bar. His face was shrouded by a black hood that was trimmed with dark blue. He made a beeline for the table and seated himself opposite of Simultus, who inclined his head in greeting. After a moment, The Blue Flash took out a scroll and slid it over to Simultus, on the screen was the image of Jaune Arc that Siultus had sent him.
"So you want to put a hit out on this guy? Why?" the mercenary asked, his face covered by his black and blue hooded cloak.
"He's been a thorn in my side for sometime. I don't want him to become a bigger problem." Simultus said, already guessing what his would lead to, "Do all mercenaries have such high moral standards?"
"I am gonna need a concrete reason, I only attack those who have done something wrong, I have no interest in petty revenge cases." The Blue Flash said, "I have morals despite my job, and while some find that unappealing, I don't compromise."
Simultus ground out a long-suffering sigh, "If it's any consolation, he is an arrogant brat who probably parades down the halls doing whatever he pleases. His killer intent is heavy and potent, so he has probably taken lives."
The Blue Flash was silent for a few minutes, "Do you have my pay?"
Simultus grinned, and handed him a card, "Half upon accepting a request, the other half upon completion of the job."
The Blue Flash got up, "I'll see you when I am done."
Simultus smirked, "I would warn you not to take him lightly. He may not look it, but if his very attitude is any indication, he is skilled. Very skilled."
The Blue Flash paused and turned his head, "Your advice is noted."
[2 days later]
Jaune was going to go and see Lupus when he saw Blake walking onto the same dustplane.
"Hey Blake, what are you doing on the dustplane?" Jaune inquired, walking over with a smile.
Blake turned to face him a flicker of surprise darting over her face, "Oh, hi Jaune. I am not doing much, just going to buy some books."
Jaune nodded, "Got any in particular you want to read?"
Blake turned a bit red, "Just going to be checking things out..."
Jaune smiled, he knew where this was going, "Mind if I tag along? I could use a good book too."
Slight panic darted through Blake's normally composed features as she tried to think of a way to dissuade him, "Well, um... I..."
"Is something wrong Blake?" Jaune asked.
"I really don't think it's your type of bookstore." she said.
Jaune tilted his head as though confused (mentally, he smirked as he dove for the kill), "It's not like your headed for a mature bookstore right?"
Blake had an expression that was a cross of panic, fear, embarrassment, and he look of someone choking on air, for just a millisecond before it cooled over.
She frowned, "Of course not, don't be ridiculous"
Silence.
Blake shifted.
Jaune smirked, and his grin became Yang-esque "Oh my god, Blake..."
"No! No! It's not, I'm not going to -" She tried to defend herself, waving her hands frantically.
"You are! Monty Oum, Blake!" Jaune began to laugh, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
"But I'm not!" she protested weakly.
Jaune grinned at her, "Damn, who knew the bibliophile of Team RWBY read smut?"
She let out a sigh of embarrassment.
Jaune patted her shoulder, "It's fine Blake, what you like to read is your business, besides I am great at keeping secrets. Anyway I have stuff to do, so please go on ahead."
"Where are you headed to?" She asks, blush slowly receding.
Jaune shrugged, "Just going for a stroll on the town. Maybe enjoy a slice of the nightlife that Yang keeps raving about. She wanted to come with me but then everyone glared at me and her respectively."
"..."
"..."
"You folded like a wet towel and ran, didn't you?" Blake chuckled.
"Shut up."
As Jaune got off the dustplane, Lupus was already there and launched himself at Jaune's chest, "Big Bro!"
Blake blinked in astonishment as the wolf faunus slammed into Jaune's chest and Jaune caught him with practiced ease. Jaune had been hanging out with this faunus kid during all those 'strolls' across the town?
"Lupus, I thought I told you to wait at the docks with the others." jaune said, an amused smile quirking his lips as he ruffled the boy's hair affectionately.
"But brooo..." The faunus whined, "We miss you! Besides, it gets boring around there without you!"
Jaune sighed and set the wolf faunus down, "I know, but come on squirt, I am a hunter in training, I have to work and as much as I wish I could stay, I can't." Jaune blinked and turned to Blake, "Blake, meet Lupus. Lupus, this is my good friend Blake Belladonna."
"She's pretty!" He barked loudly, "Are you two dating?"
Several people glanced at the commotion.
"What?!" Blake said, staring at the kid, face flushing.
Blake took a step away from Jaune and Jaune almost face-faulted.
"WHAT? NO!" Jaune defended, blush rising in his face, "She was heading for the city today too! I met her on the dustplane, we are not dating! How the heck do you even know what dating is?"
"Julius said that what friends do when they become really good friends! You said she was a good friend right?" Lupus looked a bit confused at Jaune's reaction.
Jaune sighed, "Remind me to give the talk when you are all older and more mature..."
Lupus pouted, "I am 11 years old! I am plenty old!"
Jaune quirked a sardonic smile, "Yes, elven, the absolute height of maturity."
Blake smothered a snicker at the interaction between Jaune and the wolf faunus.
Lupus grumbled but grabbed onto Jaune's hand, "Whatever, we all want to see you again! Come on!"
Jaune chuckled, "I guess I'll be seeing you later then Blake, they hate it when I take too long."
Lupus smiled at her, "Do you want to come too? If you're Bro's friend, then you've gotta be really nice too!"
Blake blinked but mentally shrugged, "Alright."
Jaune looked around at the city as though he hadn't seen it before, all the while holding a conversation with Lupus about how he was doing. Blake followed Jaune and Lupus to the docks, wondering how many more of these kids were there. Most of the warehouses here had long since been abandoned and it showed. The warehouses were dirty and decrepit, sorely in need of renovation. They finally came upon one and she saw a relatively better warehouse with several runic symbols carved into the walls.
Jaune suddenly stopped and knelt down next to Lupus. He had been sensing the surrounding area for the entire duration of the walk, picked up the spark of someone. It was odd. Not dark or particularly malicious in nature, but something was definitely... strange about this presence. He hadn't thought much of it at first.
And it had been tailing them ever since Jaune got off the dustplane.
So it put him immediately on guard.
Jaune sighed, "Hey Lupus, I need you to take Blake inside the warehouse. I have to go for a sec." crouching low, he whispered, "Don't let her take off, use the runes if you have to."
Lupus blinked, "Why?"
Jaune grimaced, "Trouble."
Blake interrupted, "Then I should help."
She was leaning over the both of them, shamelessly eavesdropping.
Jaune sighed, he should have expected her to hear, she was too close and a faunus, "Do you have Gambol Shroud on you?"
Blake expression tightened slightly.
"Thought so." Jaune said, rolling his shoulders as he rose to his full height.
"What about you?" Blake replied, "You don't have your sword or your shield."
"You're assuming I need them to fight." Jaune said nonchalantly, sure he could summon them to his side, but it wouldn't be necessary.
"Don't you?" Blake queried.
"I am perfectly confident in my hand to hand combat abilities, I can handle what's coming." Jaune said, "Now go, I don't want either of you caught up in whatever's about to happen."
Blake scowled in frustration, "Dammit..."
Jaune knew she hated being useless in any given situation, it was one of the reasons she had left the White Fang.
Jaune patted her shoulder, "I'll be fine, I give you my word." He turned to Lupus with a determined expression, "Protect her okay? She's important to me."
Lupus nodded, "Kick his butt, Big Bro!"
Jaune nodded with a quirked smile before he immediately dashed off and leapt on top of a warehouse. He ran and disappeared a moment later.
Lupus face was scrunched up in worry, but straightened in a moment, "Come on! Big bro is super strong and he gave you his promise! And if there is one thing I know about Big Bro, it's that he never goes back on a promise."
Blake gaze lingered for another second or two, before huffing a sigh and fishing out her scroll, "I know, I know."
Blake began to type in a message, sure Jaune was strong, but he didn't need to fight anyone alone.
Besides, she doubted some select people would appreciate it if they were kept in the dark about this development.
The Blue Flash had been tailing his target since he had arrived in the city.
He couldn't shake the feeling he was missing something as he saw the blonde converse with the faunus child and black-clad friend. He didn't seem prideful and the fondness when he was talking to either of them was clear as day. The Blue Flash was beginning to think that old geezer Simultus had lied to him.
He would take up that matter when he got back.
When he arrived at the docks though, the blonde said something to the both of his companions and ran off.
The Blue Flash was about to follow when a voice spoke up from behind him.
"Hello."
The Blue Flash whirled and withdrew both of his Dual One-Handed Heavy Pistol Long-Swords. He pointed them at the voice and behind his hood, The Blue Flash's eyes widened.
What?
How?
"My name is Jaune Arc." his target - a sinister grin plastered on his face - said dropping into a fighting stance, "Welcome to the the fight of your life, assassin."
You hate me all so much right now don't you?
:D
BTW I was thinking of a follow up to my Fallen Knight story, it's a bit rough around the edges but I think that it at least deserves the chance to be discussed.
-Y.A.R.N.
