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Jaune spearheaded his team's walk to the Beacon docks, there was no way his entire family was going to be crammed into their dorm room. The beds already took up half the room and eight more people might be breaking a fire code. Meeting and staying outside was better, even if there were warships parked on the pads and in the sky. Jaune knew he should have been trying to keep in contact, some messages wouldn't have hurt things but times were packed with danger. The only other person that was excited as he was Pyrrha who checked her hair and pushing away creases of her casual wear. A simple red sweater that bagged at collar and simple pair of tan trousers.
"They have to be staying for the Vytal Festival." He thought, this dad didn't say that but they had to be thinking about it if almost the whole family came here.
There were thankfully fewer soldiers and students walking around, the ladder made sense as no one could leave. It made spotting a big group of blondes at the shuttle bay easy.
"Jaune!" May the second youngest waved then skipped over to hug his waist.
"Hey May, and Alice!" The youngest was also quick to run over and take up a spot hugging his leg.
"Aw, reminds me of when Ruby was that small." Yang said as the rest of his family caught up.
"Geez, would've thought you change literally anything about your outfit by now." Ginger gesture to the Pumpkin Pete hoodie he still wore.
"It still fits."
"Are you still wearing that onesie? Got rid of it?" She asked hopeful.
"Oh thank the gods someone else gets it!" Amber said and all Jaune could do was sigh.
That thing was comfortable and it sucked to stop using it.
Yang took up position besides "Yo, Jaune said anything about me?"
"Nope!" Alice said without hesitation.
"Not really." Linzy added after a moment.
"Well, I'm Yang. Kinda the big gun of the team." She crossed her arms and cocked her waist to the side striking a strong pose.
"I think Pyrrha holds that title, she is the champion fighter," Blake interjected somewhat deflating Yang's pose from the wonderment of the younger siblings shifting to the redhead behind them. "She's more the muscle."
Sounding cool enough Yang accepted it. "Yeah, let's go with that." She continued one with Alice and May following up with a few minor questions.
"Uh hey man, how's school been?" Michelle, the final one he was ranked higher on with age asked. She was only a head shorter than him so Jaune didn't have to crank his neck down.
"Fine, assignments are pretty annoying at times but it's all good." He eyed the last elder sister that had yet to say or do anything.
Kate remained on her scroll so there was nothing new for Jaune there his dad remaining quiet was which was off. He wanted to be here and seemed to be judging the meeting as his eyes glazed over everybody. Jaune wanted to turn to mom but noticed she wasn't in the crowd before him.
"So this is Pyrrha Nikos?" She asked from behind and Jaune turned to see her towering over his partner a suspicious grin on her face.
"Oh boy."
"Yes, I'm sure Jaune has told you a lot about me." Pyrrha laughed nervously.
"No actually, that's what we're going to fix today," Juniper Arc extended a hand. "I hear my son was brave enough to ask you to the dance. I'd love to know more about you personally Ms. Nikos."
"Oh my personally, that sounds lovely!"
"I like her." Amber said.
"Yeah, I knew you would." They were going as friends and yet they were trying to make it into a bigger deal than it was.
"I've seen a few big families on my travels, never thought about why some people would want so many kids though."
"Maybe it's because my mom thinks that contraceptives are for cowards who can't handle the wonder of childbirth."
Honestly, Jaune knows his mon only says that hoping someone would hurry up and make more grandkids. She isn't getting any younger, as she says all the time. Jaune loves his sisters, it's not like he wishes for that to change any time soon.
A hand clasped over his shoulder and Jaune turned to see his dad, a worried look plastered on him. "How have you been? Schoolwork been stressful?"
"A little yeah, things have been getting crazy here in Vale." Jaune tried to reply sincerely enough but his dad didn't seem to relax any.
"You've got a lot of women on your team."
Amber chuckled. "Smooth buddy, very smooth."
"Yeah, it's not hard to live with them, sometimes I've got to wait in the bathroom or outside our dorm room."
"Met any other girls?"
"I know Weiss Schnee, we're not close but our teams live right across from one another." Jaune quickly added to avoid confusion. "Our teams had to work together to kill a Nevermore and Deathstalker during initiation."
"You killed a Deathstalker?"
"We did, my team before we were one." He clarified.
"Tell him you unlocked your semblance there, he'll ask more about this story eventually might as well put clarity to that now." Amber suggested.
"I also unlocked my semblance, I can control nature."
"You'll have to tell me more about this fight later. Meet any other women on the time you spent getting here?"
"Uh no..." Jaune was getting the feeling Roland was trying to pry for something here. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing Jaune, just hoping to save time for you mother. We both know what she can be like." He smiled, and it looked a bit forced to him.
Blake took a deep breath and sighed, today Jaune's family was coming. She had struck a dead-end in her attempt to get help from the rest of the team. Had nowhere to start in finding out who Amber was and an opportunity just happened to fall into her lap this day. It felt wrong to think that way, this was Jaune's family coming for a visit and she was going to use it to pry information about his past. It was all in the name of trying to learn more about the extent of his mental health. Getting down to the docks she finally saw them. Blake had always been an only child and seeing so many blondes made her younger what it would be like. It was easy to find one of his sisters to talk to, Juniper Arc keeping Jaune busy enough for Blake to have a relatively private conversation.
"Hello." Linzy turned to acknowledge her, she still had a soft smile from the spectacle going on.
"Hey Blake, what's up?"
"Just make some light conversation, are you the oldest in here?"
"Here yes, but Saphron is the oldest sibling in the family. I assume this 'light conversation' is going to involve a lot of Jaune in it."
"Well l was mainly hoping to better know his family and... yes it will." Linzy laughed at her failed attempt to bat the question away.
"It's fine, you want to know more about your buddy shoot, I'm not here to judge anyway."
This was the chance Balke was looking for and wasted no time in asking what she wanted. "What do you know about Amber?"
A brow being raised was what she got. "Who?"
"Amber, an old friend Jaune knew when he was young."
"Again who? Jaune's friends were mainly us and is that a girl's name?" Blake nodded. "Yeah no clue, has he been talking out of his ass about some chick from Ansel he used to date? Cause it's definitely not true."
That was not the answer Blake was looking for nor expected. Did Jaune meet Amber in secret or something? It was more likely that this sibling didn't know anything about her but even then that explanation was odd.
"Have you ever seen him talking to himself? Pause like someone is saying something or he sees thing a hat you don't?"
"No," A lot of the friendliness had left from her and replaced with suspicion. "Is there something wrong?"
This was getting nowhere. There were plenty of other sisters Balke could ask and getting one worried might make them speak with Jaune. "Never mind, forget I said anything."
Linzy eyed her suspiciously and moved to rejoin the crowd. Blake had a feeling she wouldn't just drop something like this and the Faunus sighed. This seemed to be harder than she thought and not for the reasons of keeping secrecy.
Blake was an infiltrator, one needs to be keenly aware of their surroundings in a role that involves you going deep into places full of people who want to kill you. So it didn't take long for her to notice Jaune's father looking at her intently. He pointed a fair distance away and Blake nodded after a moment of contemplation. The two stood a few feet opposing one another but Roland looked more casual.
"I couldn't help but over here you talking with Linzy." He began. "You've noticed he's been talking to himself?"
"I wouldn't be a good teammate if I didn't." She thought but didn't vocalize it.
"Yes, to an old friend of his named Amber."
"What do you know about her?" He asked. "Please think back hard, I want to know everything you've noticed in the past few months."
"Not much beyond what Jaune told me. They met when she came to his town, taught him a few things, then she died a short time before Jaune came to Beacon." Blake explained. "He's been hearing her voice ever since he goes there and I'm certain takes advice from her. I was hoping you's know more about her?" She asked hopefully to finally get something to work with now.
"Only that she probably doesn't exist," He said worriedly. "There is or was no one in our village that might be here. My son could barely talk to girls as a child and I doubt he ever met her."
"Well, he has been hearing a voice and even taking suggestions from it. You really don't know who she might be?"
Roland paused to ponder her question for a moment before shaking his head. "Not one bit, this whole situation is confusing to me. He's never shown signs that anything was off and to have an imaginary girl inside his head sounds like something a hormonal boy would come up with."
"He has something that belonged to Amber," Blake added. "A staff with a dust crystal on either end, well Jaune claims it belongs to her."
"I wouldn't know anything about it, how did he obtain it?"
"Jaune said he got it off her after they were attacked on the road to Vale. She was killed and it was all he managed to keep."
Roland's face hardened into stone and he sat up, he was far taller than Blake was and easily towered over her even while on the bench. "What do you mean by attacked?"
"H-He was assaulted by three highwaymen on the main route to Vale... You didn't know?"
Roland Arc turned to eye his son, a brief motion before directing a more fiery gaze at the CCT. Or the top of the tower almost completely obscured by the clouds.
"Ozpin..." He growled before turning back to face Blake. "What other trouble has he been getting into?"
Linzy Arc was one of the eldest and the only one other than Saphron with a steady job and income. Jaune needed money and the last thing he wanted was to ask his mother and have her blow any semblance of surprise from this. Jaune knew his mother would do so much embarrassing stuff in the name of supporting a relationship. After passing his sister along to Yang and having Blake busy talking with his dad Jaune could have some quick alone time with his big sister.
"Nice team you got here," Linzy said upon his approach. "Any you fancy the most?" She whispered.
"Please don't, I'm going to get enough of that from mom." Jaune chuckled.
"Well she seems busy so I think I'll give it a go... So you asked her to the dance?"
"It's as friends it's not like we're really dating here, don't get any weird ideas."
"Yeah... weird." Amber said blankly.
"I need a favor from you."
"Looking for relationship advice?" She sighed. "You're with three women and you haven't put any thought into this? Should've held off asking her to dance for starters, really jumping the gun bro."
"I..." Jaune sighed, what was Linzy going to say, no? It's not like it will be the end of the world. "I could use a loan. I want to go to the dance and get Pyrrha a gift but I do not have the money for both."
A brow raised and she asked. "Are you sure there's nothing more going on here?"
"No, Pyrrha is my friend and we're going to the dance." Honestly, Jaune didn't want things to get weird by implying something more.
Was he missing something here? Amber said asking Pyrrha out to the dance would make her happy. He never put much thought behind those words until now. Was there something more he wasn't seeing? If so why hadn't Amber said anything or Pyrrha for that matter?
"Sure~" She elongated the word and Amber laughed at it for some reason.
"Linzy, I need money as I don't have a lot after traveling here." Flying here would've been so much better, expensive, more dangerous, motion sickness, and he would never have met Amber. Okay, there were a few reasons why he shouldn't retreat not flying directly to Vale, even if it wouldn't as much a such a hassle.
An arm slumped around his shoulder and a Linzy held a soft smile as she spoke.
"Okay, I think we can work something out real quick."
Pyrrha quickly found herself liking the Arc family, especially Jaune's mother. A good sign if she even wanted to advance their relationship further. She was glad not to be immediately swarmed with the usual fan questions and prase. It was a perfect moment for her, Jaune didn't know her and his family didn't seem to care all that much for the champion of Mistral status.
"I was raized in Argus my whole life, never seen the countryside for very long." Pyrrha admitted.
"Ah well, you're not really missing anything important," Juniper replied. "It's still crowded between the walls but it's easier for everyone to get to know one another. There is the greater threat of Grimm."
"Must be nice to form connects to everyone in town."
"Eh, I wouldn't say connections. The grass may be greener on the outside but there are perks to staying where you are. The city air always feels so... cluttered, what has city life been for you?"
"Busy really, when I decided to become a huntress I had to devote almost all my time and effort at Scantum academy." Hunters have an excruciating career path, years at combat school getting your weapon and learning how to use it, landing strategies, prepping for academy exams, and with Pyrrha dealing with tournament fights and learning how to subtly use her semblance. All of that and you never think about how separated one can get from their social life. "I wouldn't use my experience as a prime example of city life."
Juniper nodded. "So how has my son been doing thus far? I know asking Jaune might cause him to omit a few details. He's your team leader, what do you think?"
Pyrrha decided to keep things simple, she didn't know what he told his parents about their adventures here and it was best if he broke that to them and not her.
"Jaune is quite caring for the team, we have admittedly gotten into a few fights but he's genuinely concerned for everyone and I'm happy to have him in charge." Nothing was ever going to be perfect as Pyrrha may have wanted it to. They worked things out and she would take that as a good sign for things to come.
"My son used to be quite shy as a child, I'm glad he's grown out of it before he came here."
"Shy?" He seemed anything but that, then again everyone changes over time.
"You should've seen him the first time he talked with someone of the opposite sex." Juniper had a large grin and Pyrrha knew an embarrassing story was coming.
"He was eight then and some girl from his class started talking to him asking him questions about his interest. Jaune was so excited when she asked if he wanted to go and play later, though he was asked on a date. She was really making conversation and didn't like seeing him lonely."
"Oh, well that was nice of her."
"It was until Jaune started telling everyone he had a girlfriend and they were now dating. Talking about the girl like she was woman of his dreams and how they were going to get married and have as many kids like me. Confused the poor thing and she had to break the truth to him a day after."
"Aw, that's cute. Of a bit sad to have one's thoughts squandered." She added.
"Oh don't worry, that Jaune could even talk with you while not become a studdering mess is astounding progress from where he was." She chuckled.
"Mom! Come on?!" Jaune cried out as he approached. "It was one time and I'm not a kid anymore." He crossed his arms and even put on a pout to express his displeasure towards his mother.
"Sorry, but this is what parents do when we meet "
"That might be why Saphron left." He said blankly. "So you guys are really going to stay for the entire Vytal festival?"
"Of course, unless you lose in the match then we'll be rushing back to Ansel on the first flight." Pyrrha couldn't help but laugh, that Juniper Arc could say that with a straight face and tone made it impossible not to chuckle. "In all seriousness, we'll be here rooting for you on the sidelines."
"If everyone is set on being here," Jaune let his arms drop to his sides and a look of concern grew. "The White fang is damaged right now but still dangerous and if they kidnapped kids before they might do so again." His head shifted to Kate and Alice, the two looking board as Yang tried to shadowboxed in the air in a vain attempt to impress them.
"Please be careful, don't just go out at night or alone in general." Jaune pleaded.
Pyrrha knew why with Cinder and that Adam fellow still out there, coming for revenge was a high possibility.
"We will, it's not like anyone plans to be reckless even with the terrorists a lot of unsavory people try and take advantage of tourists during this time," Juniper understood what he was getting at and tried to reassure him. "We have your father and will be fine."
Jaune sighed, it wasn't one of relief. The rest of the evening went fine. Roland had melted away from Blake for reasons he didn't explain, the Arc family was pleasant to speak with. Not that Pyrrha assumed they wouldn't be, Jaune didn't seem nervous or upset that his family was here. His concern was still plastered on his face as the sun blazed over the afternoon. No hard to understand his nervousness, Cinder was out there.
Pyrrha moved to offer what support she could. "Why don't we ask Ozpin for help?" She said quietly. "With everything going on he may be able to spare someone to keep an eye on them."
Jaune pauses for a moment before directing his gaze up to the CCT. "Yeah, that can work... let me call him now."
"I need to get back to the dorm," Blake said. "I have something I need to take care of anyway."
"I'll come with you, I wanna look up some places to find a dress," Yang added her voice blankly. "Dance is coming up in a few days and we can't head into Vale anymore."
The two split off from the group and Pyrrha realized that she too needed to find a dress, with the lockdown it would need to be ordered. Jaune took out his scroll and the call was swift and ended with a thank you. It's not like she expected Ozpin to say no and leave Jaune's family by themselves.
"What is he sending?" She asked, curious.
"A huntsman to shadow them," He sighed, this time it was one of relief. "He's going to call my dad about it too, don't want him getting the wrong idea."
"Lovely," She smiled. "I'm sure they'll find Cinder and all this will be over soon anyway."
"Yeah..." The uncertainty in his voice nearly made her drop the grin.
He needed some support and she was here if he wanted someone to lean on. There was no need to be pushy though, space felt like a good idea. They soon made their way back towards the dorm room, after finding a dress they'd need to start some sparring. The Vytal festival being pushed up meant everyone had less time than usual to prepare. They'd have to manage and failing that do their best. People get knocked out of the tournament all the time, no need for her to get worked up over the idea of failure.
"What do you like?" Jaune asked.
"Hm?" Pyrrha turned and gave him a look that he needed to elaborate.
"Got a favorite candy or pastry? Anything you've wanted to have for some time now?"
"The gift he wants to buy me."
"I will be glad to have anything so long as someone made it with care."
"Okay, good to know." They continued on without a second word between them.
She hoped that wasn't too obvious, surprising was what he lost when Pyrrha was eavesdropping on him. She wanted there to be some level of surprise behind it.
"I'm sure whatever he'll get me will be lovely." Her gift was already on the way in.
Ozpin eyed the sketches on his screen, a bulky metal glove with thick wires protruding out. Getting Atlas engineers to try and scale down the aura transfer machine and have it take out the soul from a specific area got to the conception stage and that's it. While they weren't reinventing the wheel here the technology was crude as it and now they wanted to make it sophisticated towards something he barely understood. Magic and possibly the Grimm were involved in whatever Cinder used which only meant more questions. He was getting tired of not having an easy answer.
There was a ding to signify the elevator opening, Ozpin wasn't expecting anyone and was even more confused to see Roland Arc step through.
"Can I help you?" He stood to greet his old student but paused when he noted the angry emanating from him.
"I just had a chat with my son's team, nice kids they'll grow to be real Hunters someday." Roland stopped just a few feet from the older man and sighed. "One of them told me a lot about what they're been doing here in Vale..."
"Ah yes, team JPBY has been making strides to oppose the White Fang-"
"Why didn't you tell me they were fighting terrorists?!"
The livid look and opening to this conversation already clued Ozpin into the 'what' part of Roland's anger. Still, he found himself perplexed as to why the man was angry at him. His son was the one who never called to informed his family about anything about his time at Beacon.
"He is an adult now Roland, whatever he chooses to disclose about events here is his own business now-"
"They're first years!" Roland cried. "Why do you have them fighting terrorists?!"
"Two of them became involved on their own accord and had no interest in stopping. I took it upon myself to give them the backing they needed to continue their fight and not get hurt."
"What about sending them to Mountain Glenn?" He sneered.
"A scouting mission, they weren't supposed to engage anyone and a large team of Hunters took over when the threat was found."
"Jaune has schizophrenia was assaulted on the way to Vale with this alleged Amber there. This is crucial information about my son's well-being and you kept it away from me!"
Ozpin tried to remain as passive-looking as possible, as he needed to not antagonize the man. "I apologize for withholding such information, I expected your son to say something."
"Jaune keeping this a secret makes sense Ozpin, he knows we'd get worried and come running but you?" They locked eyes and the Headmaster could see the anger thankfully lessen. "I know you care for the student but it's hard to tell sometimes... I know they were on the raid on that hotel."
Ozpin didn't know what Roland was told about that so he kept his mouth shut and waited.
"Why did you let them go? Friend or not they are not trained for this."
"No, but the situation is complicated, they want to fight the White Fang and I have yet to temper it. They are being hunted by them now, better and broken as the Vale sect is I except word JPBY's actions here will spread."
Regardless of how he tried to keep them out of the news stories Ozpin knew word would get around. Their actions would be noted by the White Fang as a whole especially with a former member on the team.
"I don't want them running out into danger anymore. Especially when my son needs help."
"That isn't possible anymore." Ozpin thought, the boy was too deep into this now and his team would follow him. Even if Cinder was captured and Amber was placed into her rightful body he doubted the boy would want to leave.
"I cannot promise that Roland, not because I don't want to," He quickly added under the man's gaze. "What your son does will be his business and I can not always be there to prevent him and his team from getting involved."
Roland groaned. "At least keep me posted."
"I will old friend, I will."
Roland held a burning glare for a moment before turning to leave. "You better..." He muttered.
Ozpin's eyes remained on the man until the elevator door closed him away. He slumped back into his chair and sighed, this wasn't entirely unexpected but was unwanted. The last thing he needed was Roland prying too deep into Jaune's 'mental illness'. He knows the need for discretion and Roland's purpose here was inevitable after he called the man.
"We need to get this device working... sometime soon."