If Weiss Schnee could use a single word to describe her current situation, it would be anger.
As if the events of the previous day hadn't angered her enough already. Weiss had completely thrown herself into the work needed for her…ahem, their presentation. The content was close to being finished, however if a certain blonde dolt would pick up his scroll then this whole process would be going so much smoother than it had been. Hell, if the idiot had been in team JNPR's dorm room the previous night then she could have laid out her frustrations to him. Chastise his actions, admonish his poor communication skills, and absolutely throw the rest of their work at him before sternly instructing he finish his parts before meeting together the next day.
Monday, however, had come. Begrudgingly, the heiress readied herself for the day before storming out of team RWBY's dorm to stroll the 3 steps across the hall the knock on JNPR's in an attempt to rouse Jaune. Seriously, the gall on that boy. Who did he think he was? Ignoring her for the past day like she was some common mutt. Who would ignore a dog? Not that Weiss thought of herself as a dog, not sir not at all. All it was, was a stupid metaphor. Weiss Schnee would not treat herself li-
"He did not return last night, unfortunately." Ren answered.
The Mistralian boy carefully rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he straightened out his uniform before stepping out the door and closed it.
"He has never done this before, Pyrrha is concerned." Ren admitted.
"And you? What do you make of your leader's absence?" Weiss questioned.
Ren sighed, a question he himself had been contemplating since Pyrrha had been worrying the previous day.
"Jaune would not ignore us, all of us," Ren stated, "if he did not have good reasoning behind it. Whatever is going on, it is up to him to tell us in his own time. We cannot force this."
"If the dolt would just pick up his scroll, we would not be having this conversation." Weiss huffed.
"I know, Weiss. Please don't think of him like I know you are, he means well. Perhaps you need a break? If I recall, it is only a half day of classes. Take time with your team to relax, I will make sure he contacts you if he calls." Ren offered.
Weiss looked at him with narrowed eyes before closing them and sighing. Yes, of course he was right. Ren was as wise as he was stoic. Weiss shook her thoughts free of Jaune Arc before straightening her posture and looking back at him with a new perspective in her mind.
"Thank you for understanding. Perhaps some time off would refresh my mind." Weiss admitted.
The two nodded towards each other before both of their teams stepped out at roughly the same time. Incredible, it was as if they all had a mental connection for appropriate timing…or not. Weiss would have to disagree with herself there, only months before they had barely arrived at their first class of the school year. A mistake that would not repeat on her watch.
With a new view of the day ahead, both teams walked side by side towards their first class. Grimm Studies. Weiss could swear she heard a collective groan from team RWBY's resident sisters, a groan she could not totally disagree with. Professor Port may have a certain style of teaching which heavily involved (and quite possibly relied on) tales from his youth. They were…interesting to say the least. No matter, he was a senior huntsman. An incredible warrior with a purpose of teaching and guiding the hunters and huntresses of her generation. She would give him the respect she deserved.
"Hey P-money, where's Jaune?" Yang asked.
"Yeah, where is he? He promised we'd go to the arcade yesterday!" Ruby complained.
Great, now he had weaseled his way back into her thoughts. He was so going to pay for his absence whether he liked or not.
######
If there was a time to start smoking, Jaune figured it would be now.
The morning had come and gone in the blink of an eye. His hand was still clung tightly, however gentle, around Terra's hand. He flicked the hair away from his eyes before giving her hand a small squeeze before leaving the room. It was time for what he'd be dreading, a trip to the morgue. Dr. Rhodes had informed him of the morgue located within the hospital. Good, he wouldn't have to stray far from Terra.
The young Faunus nurse who had been present at reception the day prior escorted the young Arc down towards the hospital's morgue. The trip was silent, much to Jaune's relief. Even the thought of speaking made his throat and mouth clamp shut. His confusion grew when the nurse gently tugged at his wrist, he must have spaced out. He didn't recognize his surroundings; he certainly didn't recall stepping into an elevator. He allowed himself to be led by her, his feet matching her pace.
His attention shifted to her touch. It was gentle but firm. Jaune did not feel threatened by her grasp, nor should he. It felt strangely comforting, the action made him feel grounded in the moment. A moment that still didn't feel real. Jaune assumed that feeling would retreat in a few minutes.
He would assume correctly.
Which brings Jaune back to his current dilemma. Sitting outside the hospital on a wooden bench surrounded by smoking patients. Glancing around, he could notice a doctor inside glare at the smokers before gently face palming. Jaune snorted lightly at the action.
He closed his eyes before focusing on the heat beating down on him from the morning sun, the shaking in his hands slowly dwelling with each breath. He tried gently shaking his head in an attempt to evacuate the images that would permanently be burned into his brain.
"A blonde woman and…a toddler." Rhodes's voice echoed.
A blonde woman and a toddler. A blonde woman and a toddler that he had to verify. The sound of the drawer clicking open before slowly being pulled out repeated in his memories. He noticed the woman's hair first, a dirty blonde. Seeing the rest of the body wasn't necessary, he could already tell it was Saphron.
His eyes dropped lower to gaze across her face. Saph looked cold, the light blue hue of her lips attributed to the fact. Jaune's eyes began to sting, tears dropping down his face silently. A light sheet covered below her neck, something he was grateful for. He didn't need to see his sister this way, let alone see whatever injury had taken her from him. Returning his gaze back to her face, Jaune gently brushed his fingers across her face. He noticed a light fleck of blood below her right eye. He shut his eyes tightly before stepping away from the drawer. He could hear the nurse ask for them to shut the drawer in a commanding tone.
"Sa…Saphron Cotta-Arc." Jaune confirmed.
Light scribbling could be heard before the nurse gently grasped his wrist again to lead him over to the next drawer. She rubbed his hand warmly before opening the drawer herself. He swallowed deeply before slowly opening his eyes again. A quick breath escaped his lips before he shut them tightly once again.
"Adrian Cotta-Arc." He relayed.
Jaune tried to shake his head free of these memories, yet they would not budge. Thinking of his family dead in a metal drawer made him sick to his stomach. Literally and figuratively.
A light cough caused him to whip his head quickly at the intruder, his guard lowering when he took sight of the nurse and Dr. Rhodes patiently waiting for his attention. Jaune stood slowly before striding the gap that separated them.
"Mr. Arc," Rhodes began, "I am very sorry for your loss. I tried my hardest alongside the other surgeons to repair the damage. I'm sorry I could not save your family."
Jaune merely nodded before quickly wiping away any tears that had formed during their brief conversation.
"When will Terra wake up?" He asked.
"Her injuries are quite severe; she will be kept in an induced coma for the time being until we are certain she won't cause any further damage in her consciousness." Rhodes admitted.
"Why don't you take some time to yourself and freshen up a bit? There's a lovely café a few blocks from here, best food and coffee in downtown Vale." The nurse offered.
"But what about Terra? I can't just leave her alone like this." Jaune protested.
"She will be well cared for, I assure you. No harm will come to her in her current state. We have your contact information should any problems arise in your absence. Lana is right, self-care is what you need now." Rhodes countered.
"Besides, the food here is shit." Lana admitted.
Jaune let out a light chuckle out the nurse's joke. Lana was a nice name, it suited her. He couldn't argue with their logic. Terra wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. He could feel the drowsiness in his eyes as he blinked rapidly. He nodded before offering his thanks to Rhodes's attempts to save his sister and nephew.
Right now, a coffee is definitely what he needed. The growl in his stomach signifying that maybe some food wouldn't hurt either.
######
Weiss stared absentmindedly at her scroll during combat class, waiting for the inevitable poor excuse from the Arc regarding his absence. Not even the pained cry from one of the team CRDL members being rapidly launched across the arena by Yang could even tear her eyes away.
"Winner by ring-out, Yang Xiao Long. Mr. Winchester, would you please accompany Mr. Lark to the infirmary." Professor Goodwitch commanded.
A grumbled 'yes, Ms. Goodwitch' could be heard from Cardin as he hoisted his unconscious team-mate across his shoulder. Slipping his hand into his pocket, he begrudgingly retrieved a 20 Lien card before slipping it into the hands of one Yang Xiao Long as he strode past. A cheery thanks escaped the brawlers' lips before she landed heavily into the seat she had left not two minutes prior. All eyes slightly narrowed at her, bar Blake who was too busy reading whatever book she had smuggled into class that day.
"What was that about?" Nora questioned.
"He bet Sky wouldn't last more than 3 minutes; I bet he wouldn't last more than 2." Yang quipped.
A raised eyebrow from the Valkyrie caused Yang to elaborate.
"Hey, he's honestly not that bad a guy. Cardin really toned down since VB saved his ass." Yang admitted.
The randomizer for their combat class selected the next two challengers; Pyrrha Nikos and Lie Ren.
"Oh dear." Ren sighed.
Pyrrha laughed lightly before following him as he stood up to retrieve his gear.
"Oh yeah speaking of Jaune," Ruby chimed in, "He text anyone yet? Still haven't got a response over here."
"Nope! Fearless leader is off the grid." Nora chirped.
Blake closed her book with a sigh before joining the conversation.
"His absence is very noticeable. Totally a different tone today." Blake admitted.
The girls hummed in agreement as the resident heiress huffed and added her own remark.
"If the dolt would just answer we would not be in this predicament. I mean, he's always on it! Watching entirely irrelevant media during class, on social media, and texting!" Weiss complained.
The group of girls immediately noticed the shift in the surrounding atmosphere. A slight chill rolling down their spines. Yang shivered before flaring her aura to dispel the cold.
"Weiss don't be mean! I'm sure he's just busy?" Ruby offered.
"OH YEAH! His sister is in town, he's probably with her!" Nora recalled.
The buzz from an aura depletion on the overhead monitors was heard. The group of girls panned their gaze over to yet another Pyrrha win. Ruby cringed as she saw Ren sprawled out across the center of the arena.
"Well…at least Ren lasted at least 20 seconds longer this time?" Blake offered.
Ruby face palmed as Yang snorted at the 'lasting longer' part.
All heads snapped towards Professor Goodwitch as she relayed to the students her observations of the battles before dismissing them entirely. The gang quickly noticed as Pyrrha was kept behind with Goodwitch before fleeing the room lest they suffer her wrath. Pyrrha could carry Ren back, easily.
"SO! What's on the schedule for today?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, definitely sleeping," Yang chuckled, "Me and Ren already finished our presentation yesterday, so this lady is passing out."
"Ren and I." Weiss countered
"Eh you know what I mean princess." Yang smirked.
The two teams parted ways at their dorms before stepping inside. Weiss took one final glance at her scroll before shutting it with a huff. Still no word from that dunce. She had already completed her part, now it was up to him. Stupid, foul, blonde dolt! Who did he think he was? When Weiss got her hands on him, she would strangle the life out of him!
No. No! Weiss would not allow his name to ruin her perfectly good chance to relax and refresh her mind. Ren was right, she needed a break. She mentally noted to thank him for his advice. At least she would when his body mended itself from the assault that took place in combat class.
Weiss silently scanned the dorm before her gaze landed on the red reaper. She knew her partner had already finished her presentation with their resident ninja. She had, of course, witnessed her and Blake utilizing their time in Grimm Studies to finish their slides while Professor Port rambled on about yet another escapade from his youth. A story involving a watermelon and a pack of Apathy if she recalled correctly.
"Ruby, would you like to accompany me to Vale?" Weiss asked.
Ruby rocketed from the top bunk in a burst of rose petals before rematerializing in front of the heiress with a smile that could melt ice cream.
"Duh! Of course I will! We can go to that café we went to last time…and this time I'll remember my wallet." Ruby grinned
Yes, the café. It was truly something spectacular, their coffee was so beautifully blended one could claim it was made of magic. Oh, and perhaps a nice bagel to go with it? The food there was fantastic the last time the whole of team RWBY had journeyed there. Nothing could possibly ruin this moment.
######
The Café. Jaune had to admit it looked nice, he could only hope the food was good too. He was confused to find it was actually just called The Café as well. Funny, he and Saph did always like places named after itself.
He shook his head of those thoughts before pulling the door open, wavering slightly before he stood back to allow a mother and her young daughter to exit first. She smiled gratefully before thanking him and leaving.
It was relatively empty. The only patrons being several hospital staff and women who had taken a break from their morning run to grab a bite and some coffee to chat about rudimentary topics. He could swear he picked something up about one woman's husband using his weapon to renovate their house. He chuckled lightly before stepping up to order. Something warm would do him wonders, maybe something with caramel? That was always his favourite type of coffee. Oh, and how could he forget the food? There were so many aromas filling his nose, he couldn't differentiate between a muffin and a bagel. Oh yeah, a bagel sounded nice.
He quickly ordered something after he noticed the barista waiting for him patiently at the counter for him. A nice caramel latte with a cream cheese bagel. The barista giggled at his antics before silently accepting the payment and pushing an already prepared bagel on a plate across to him. He offered his thanks before she placed a card with his order number printed on so their servers could deliver his steaming mug of caffeine.
Jaune made his way across to a table that offered ample sunlight and privacy. He sat down on the cushioned chair with a sigh of relief, the warmth of the sunlight washing over him. Quickly grabbing the pair of utensils supplied to him, Jaune sliced off a portion that would fit in his mouth with ease before consuming it with grace. His eyes closed as his tastebuds and stomach thanked him.
Jaune reluctantly pulled out his scroll to turn it back on, he was sure there would be a decades' worth of missed messages waiting for him. He was right, of course. A dozen or so from his team combined, most coming from Pyrrha. A lot of "where are you?" and "are you okay?" messages. He'd have to tell them eventually, couldn't exactly skip class without some sort of punishment.
"Oh, shit." Jaune realized.
Quickly opening his e-mail app, Jaune quickly drafted a message that would be delivered to headmaster Ozpin. Nothing too fancy, nothing too casual. Just enough to relay the point that there was a death in the family, and he wouldn't be attending classes for a while. Sending it without a second thought, Jaune reopened his messages to scroll through what he missed.
Ruby trying to find where he was, about a dozen messages from her. Yang had sent at least 3, wondering if he was okay and if he needed a ride. Blake, bless her heart, had taken the time to ask if he was alright. Weiss had…sent over 100 messages and called about a dozen times. Jaune cringed both internally and externally as he read through each message. Every single one increasing with frustration and anger. He furrowed his brow lightly; he understood her frustrations, but she had no idea what was happening. He rolled his eyes before closing his texts. A ping erupted from his scroll, indicating a new e-mail.
'That was quick.' Jaune thought.
Mr. Arc,
I am deeply sorry to hear of your loss. Rest assured, the staff have been made aware of your extenuating circumstances and will not punish you for your absence from current and future classes. No one outside the teaching staff have been made aware, mind you.
It is not required, but Dr. Oobleck is a qualified therapist. His door is always open for anyone who needs someone to speak with. I should know, I've been through that door many times.
Please do not be afraid to reach out for help in these times. Take all the time you need to recover.
Kind Regards,
Ozpin.
He wasn't sure when it happened, but his coffee had been delivered at some point. Probably a sign from the coffee addict of a headmaster he had. Jaune grabbed the mug carefully before sipping on the liquid. The beverage slid down his throat and warmed his insides nicely. He closed his eyes in content before sighing. He couldn't stay in this moment forever, he needed to return to Terra.
Jaune quickly ate his bagel before slowly finishing his drink. He could feel the caffeine kicking in as he felt his eyes spring back to normal. Placing the mug back down, Jaune rubbed his arms. Without his armour he felt slightly naked. He thought back to the way the nurse grabbed his wrist, the way it comforted and grounded him. Maybe that's what Terra needed, someone to comfort and ground her while she was unconscious.
He pocketed his scroll before standing to full height. Stretching out his body and popping his joints, Jaune moved towards the exit. Taking in a deep breath, Jaune turned to move towards the street and make his journey back. However, a familiar white themed huntress blocked his path.
"Jaune Arc," Weiss began, "Where have you been you dolt!"