Sanctum Academy was the premier primary combat school in the Kingdom of Mistral. Aspiring Huntsmen and Huntresses seeking the greatest challenge, the most heated forge, and the greatest achievement chose Sanctum. Mistral's most revered combat school was equal to Vale's Signal and the other combat schools in quality of instruction. The features that set Sanctum apart were the features that made some in the other Kingdoms look down on Mistral as a whole.
First, Mistral and Sanctum were very isolated. A culture had developed based on independence and self-reliance. Mistralians had a very powerful sense of individualism and were very loyal to their closest companions. They did not trust easily.
Second, the terrain and climate were both harsh. The entire continent was dominated by swamps. Mistral's cultural self-reliance was born in the difficulties of surviving in the Grimm infested nightmares surrounding the few pockets of civilizations.
Life, true life, had adapted to the harshness of the continent. Against all odds, life was thriving. This triumph was by no means gifted. Life in Mistral was forged.
Jaune, the sole son of the Arc lineage, had chosen to attend Sanctum Academy for those very reasons. His family's heritage was one of heroism, service, and prowess. Unfortunately, there were complications that attempted to keep Jaune from embracing his heritage. He was an Arc, however. It would take a great deal more than a disagreement to keep him from becoming a Huntsman. Jaune had studied every Primary Combat School on the planet. Signal, the most famous Combat School in his home country of Vale, had naturally been his first choice. The school was, however, too closely connected to his family.
Signal's name would be very fitting had Jaune's unique manner of entry been discovered.
So, Jaune looked elsewhere. He looked further afield. Atlas's Secant Academy was simply not an option. Atlas was too rigid a society. They were far too thorough. Vacuo was a very solid choice, but it shared a continent with Vale. Jaune needed a place where he couldn't simply be dragged home by his family.
Mistral was far enough away and had a reputation for valuing privacy.
Considering Jaune Arc had, quite skillfully, forged his transfer documents, privacy was a very important factor in choosing his school.
"I still don't know what made me think that was a good idea." Jaune's words seemed to echo in the hall despite being a whisper. They also referred to a good deal more than 'simply' committing fraud to enter Sanctum. His position balanced on a paper mache edge. Average was his ally. The last thing he could afford was to be put in the spotlight and under the microscope.
Unfortunately, Jaune's complete lack of a clue had led him straight into a an amazing risk within fifteen minutes of leaving Headmaster Erithros Stavros's office. The Forger had been so elated by his successful gambit that he had become hilariously lost. Jaune had stumbled through an empty hall and found a lone student occupying a bench.
For someone looking to avoid scrutiny, Jaune couldn't have made a worse choice.
For someone looking for a friend, Jaune couldn't have made a better one.
Her name was Pyrrha Nikos, and she was incredible. She was the warmest and friendliest person Jaune had ever met. Pyrrha had not judged or belittled Jaune. Even Jaune's carefully cultivated paranoia and worry about being discovered melted away in the face of such genuine good will.
Unfortunately, Pyrrha was also Remnant's fastest rising star. Jaune's entire gambit relied on avoiding any form of scrutiny. Friendship with the two-time reigning Mistral Regional Champion was practically sending out hand-written invitations to the press to dig into Jaune's past.
The odds he would be discovered were rising daily. So in roughly a complete year of stupid risks, Jaune Arc figured what harm could one more stupid risk do?
"Hello again!" Pyrrha greeted her only true companion without restraint.
"Hello again," Jaune repeated with a slight smile. "I heard you were back early. Had to scramble to smuggle this in."
Pyrrha looked at the 'bouquet' Jaune had produced from behind his back. Her ponytail swished back and forth as she shook her head in mirth. "I am on a training regimen, Jaune."
"It'll be our secret. I promise I'll only leak this scandalous life choice to MBN for two signed mint-condition copies of 'X-ray and Vav' Issue Number One. You would get the second copy as my apology for selling you out to the press." Jaune waggled the 'bouquet' invitingly.
"Jaune Arc!" Pyrrha somehow managed to make her exclamation in a totally flat voice, before smiling radiantly. "For a signed Issue Number One, I wouldn't even be mad."
She plucked a strand of cotton candy from Jaune's bouquet. Her confidant chuckled. "Not even a little bit?"
"With you? Never," Pyrrha confessed after taking another bit of cotton candy. "Jaune...What's wrong? I haven't seen you this lost since the first day we met..."
'Now's as good a time as ever,' the somewhat fraudulent Arc decided. He took a moment to truly take in the appearance of his closest friend. She truly was beautiful. Pyrrha's vibrant red hair and vivid green eyes were made all the more striking by the simple black jacket and matching houndstooth skirt that served as Sanctum's female uniform. Unfortunately, Jaune's image of his confidante made the dreaded 'just friends' wall practically visible.
"Are you sure about that? Never?" Jaune looked down. The slightest pressure of Pyrrha's hand on his shoulder bolstered his flagging courage. "I'm a fraud, Pyrrha. Half my admissions documents are forged."
"Forged?" Pyrrha was shocked, and that emotion resonated through the pressure on Jaune's shoulder.
"My 'sponsor' here in Mistral? He isn't a relative. He's barely a family friend. Mom hasn't even talked to him since Elementary School. A few hundred lien and he signed off on every document I sent him. All those character recommendations? Might as well have been Grimm Scratch." Jaune spat his revelation out hot and venomous. The words hung in the air around Jaune like a foul miasma.
"A sheet of paper doesn't determine your character," Pyrrha said quietly. "Everything you've done here with me has shown your character. Jaune...you are a great person and I want you...to know...that your friendship means more to me than either of my championships."
The Arc shook his head. "I'm breaking the law by being here."
"For what? How is wanting to improve yourself so that you can continue your family's legacy of service to Remnant wrong? The how of your entry doesn't matter as much as the why!"
Of all the reactions, this was the one Jaune was least prepared for. Pyrrha had, probably, never raised her voice once in her life. Here she was, clearly upset, and letting Jaune Arc have a piece of her mind. The somewhat quirky arena champion had either already forgotten about his criminal confession, or had chosen to ignore the implications. Her anger was directed at Jaune's inferiority complex. Pyrrha had hoped she had, in some ways quite literally, beaten the complex out of her companion.
It seemed she hadn't fully accomplished her objective. Determination was a virtue that Pyrrha acknowledged in herself. The Champion would not let that virtue fail her now. She slipped the hand on Jaune's shoulder down around his waist. Her free arm quickly wrapped Jaune up as well.
"I won't betray your confidence. This will stay between us," Pyrrha promised.
"Thank you, Pyrrha..." Jaune managed to force out.
"Jaune, you are my only friend. I won't give up on you," the blossoming legend admitted forlornly.
Once again, Pyrrha caught him off guard. "What are you talking about? Everyone admires, respects, and likes you! Hell! It's impossible not to do any of those things!"
"They admire, respect, and like the champion. After the last tournament, everyone offered the usual congratulations and platitudes. They asked me what it was like to be the center of attention for most of the world. They talked about how I was all over the CCTS news. Do you remember what you asked me?"
The Arc gulped slightly as Pyrrha pulled him into a tighter, decidedly not 'just friends', hug. "I-I asked if you had fun. If you had a moment to actually enjoy yourself."
"You asked me, not the Tournament Champion who just had a meeting about being on the box of Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes."
"Wait!" Jaune interrupted. "That was the meeting? The last people they put on the box was X-Ray and Vav."
Pyrrha laughed, throaty and invitingly. "Only you would turn a confession like that into something geeky."
"Hey, it got you to laugh. That's a win in my book."
Jaune had always been aware of Pyrrha's 'presence'. She projected so many emotions, faces...masks that nearly everyone who met her had drawn on her...projecting their own beliefs onto Pyrrha. There were no projections here. No wishful thinking on Jaune's part. No conforming to the image forced upon her on Pyrrha's part.
They had never told each other the truth so completely before. It should be impossible to say so much with no words. Pyrrha and Jaune experienced a magnetism. Jaune could feel the blood rushing through his veins at a thousand miles per hour. Pyrrha's experience was similar in intensity, but altered. The roar of Mistral's Coliseum was the whisper of a summer breeze next to the pounding of her heart.
For a moment, everything was perfect.
"Miss Nikos!" A familiar voice called out from nearby.
Jaune's forehead met Pyrrha's gently. "If we ignore her, she might go away..."
"That sounds grand," Pyrrha whispered back.
Kastana Myti rounded the corner. Pyrrha's publicist was a friendly person in all honesty. Jaune and Pyrrha tolerated her better than most of the hangers-on brought about by Pyrrha's celebrity. That tolerate-bordering-on like did not save her from a pair of annoyed teenage glares when she interrupted the moment that was transpiring. The publicist gasped in shock as she took in the scene in front of her.
This was completely unexpected!
"F-Forgive me, Miss Nikos...I was hoping you could approve the statement r-regarding the Pumpkin Pete deal..."
Kastana had the good sense to look sheepishly away as the two teens extremely, excruciatingly slowly...separated themselves. Pyrrha looked every bit of the moody teenager she truly was at that moment. Kastana presented her scroll to the young celebrity.
Pyrrha punctuated her read-through of the statement with a huff. "It's fine."
Jaune didn't speak 'Womanese', but he could definitely tell Pyrrha was not in the best mood. He couldn't blame her. Jaune had seen the Mountain Top. It had been right there.
"Let's go, Jaune. We have afternoon sparing classes," Pyrrha declared. Her strong, athletic arms snaked around Jaune's own. He wasn't going to complain. Heck, in that moment, he wouldn't be hugely upset if she dragged him home.
He did feel incredibly bad for whoever drew Pyrrha's number. The champion had a look in her eyes that promised pain and retribution. Jaune had the feeling it would be safest for everyone involved if he was Pyrrha's sparring partner today.
'Way to take one for the 'team', Jaune...'
Jaune grimaced as the students filled in to the sparring rooms. He was used to getting looks. There were a lot of people who weren't thrilled with his closeness to the biggest celebrity in all of Mistral. Jaune Arc had been terrified at first by the attention. Any notion of pushing Pyrrha away to protect his secrets had died in the face of Pyrrha's magnetism and warmth. Jaune had never had any truly close friends or even a legitimate support system. His father had been left embittered after his crippling at the vicious claws and barbed tail of the Alpha Griffon years ago. Nichol had never been cruel or neglectful towards Jaune, but he did not support Jaune taking up Crocea Mors. His mother, Halaya, had been just as adamant in keeping Jaune from the Hunter's Path.
They had acquiesced when Jaune had presented his acceptance letter to Sanctum and a falsified official sponsorship letter from Mistral.
The Arcs were torn between feeling proud for their son and terrified. Still, they had gifted Crocea Mors and their blessing to the only Arc son. It was one of his most positive and endearing memories. The weight of his family's ancestral sword and shield in his hands was welcome.
"Today we will be grading and critiquing your performances," a upperclassman Jaune didn't recognize announced. "Professor Elia has just announced she is on maternity leave."
Jaune smiled at the news and several of the girls began chattering happily. Professor Elia was extremely popular. Everyone was legitimately happy for the younger teacher. They were also glad for a bit break when it came to grading! Elia's grading was tough, but she had the best interest of the students at heart.
To put it bluntly, some of the students in the Primary Combat Schools weren't cut out to be Huntsmen or Huntresses. They were learning skills to make them exceptional law enforcement or military officers. Graduates of Sanctum who did not advance to Haven, Shade, or Beacon would not serve humanity and Faunus-kind as Hunters. Those graduates generally lacked the aura levels to survive long-term deployment into the borderlands where Grimm outnumbered people hundreds to one.
Fortunately for Jaune Arc, he had a lot of Aura. His Aura reserves were another kink in his perilous effort to stay out of the spotlight. As the upperclassman droned on about the situation with Professor Elia, Jaune indulged in a nervous tic. The fraudulent knight spun his blade in his hands.
"Eager to get it on, Jaune?" Blass, one of the other students and an immigrant from Atlas, asked with a snicker.
Unfortunately, Blass could be described with a vulgar term that rhymed with his name. "You could say that."
Jaune's response was as noncommittal as humanely possible. The Arc really had no desire to carry on the conversation with Blass. The other boy was almost dead-center of Sanctum's performance. In fact, Jaune and Blass routinely swapped that position.
"Your partners will be displayed on the board. Remember, stay on the mat. The match is over once your Aura falls into the red or you are removed from the mat."
Jaune barely registered the instructions. They were the truncated version of Professor Elia's usual directions. Blass snorted as he noticed that he had been selected as Jaune's opponent. Jaune was paying more attention to Pyrrha's draw. Poor Blednee wasn't a bad kid, but she had the worst luck. Jaune knew Pyrrha would be exceptionally gracious, helpful, and full of sportsmanship. The Champion was just too intrinsically nice. It was just...Jaune couldn't see her pulling as much off her blows today.
"Are you ready Jaune? Or are you not done with your art appreciation?" Blass joked.
It was in that moment, that Jaune decided he wasn't going to pull as much off his blows either. Pyrrha had confided a great deal in Jaune during their friendship. The one truth that had struck Jaune was that Pyrrha feared the world losing sight that she was an actual person. Mistral, and now most of Remnant, only saw the Champion or 'The Invincible Girl'. Pyrrha was getting swept away in the torrent of her own success. Blass's comment was an obvious, if somewhat twisted and crass, compliment on Pyrrha's (and Blednee's) beauty. It also reinforced Pyrrha's fears. For Blass saw her as an object...a conquest. That caused a tide of boiling anger to bubble through Jaune's blood as he pictured Pyrrha's reaction if she ever found out.
'If she ever finds out,' Jaune thought and was surprised by the dark steel at its core.
Another upperclassman approached Jaune and Blass. "Prepare for the spar," the instructions were blunted by sheer boredom. The two younger students would wager that this sod had been 'voluntold' to assist while Professor Elia was out.
Blass bowed half-heartedly and extended his weapon. Jaune really didn't care what the arrogant new-money jerk called it. It was a giant dual-pronged pitchfork with a built-in, long-range shock prod. The Arc smiled as he readied Crocea Mors. He had a plan now.
"Begin!" the upperclassman shouted. The two boys circled each other. Blass flourished his weapon proudly. He shouted a generic taunt that flaunted his wealth. Jaune was not focused on empty words. Instead, he recalled a bit of history recovered form some of the earliest archeological finds in Remnant. Humanity had been exceedingly desperate in the ancient days of history. Men and Faunus alike had been forced to weaponize anything and everything to survive against the Creatures of Grimm. That included farming tools such as the pitchfork.
Blass could say all he wanted about his family's so-called nobility. "Hey, Blass...I wonder what your great-great-great times three granddad would say about you stealing his pitchfork. I'm sure he needs that to meet his potato quota for his lord."
The taunt hit its mark. Blass's gloating smirk vanished faster than if Jaune had actually struck a physical blow. Angered by the swipe at his family's lineage, the Atlesian abandoned all thought of strategy. A military fork was designed for thrusting. The prongs were not quite as effective as a true spear tip, but their function was the same.
Swinging it like a chair in a barroom brawl was not an effective use of the weapon.
Jaune charged forward to counter. His shield absorbed and deflected the wild swing. The taunt had really pushed Blass's buttons. The swing had been beyond angry. It had gone full speed into tortuously stupid. Not only was the Military Fork no longer able to be used effectively as it struggled against Jaune's shield, Blass was so off balance he couldn't even kick.
The Arc's thoughts weren't about setting up Blass to royally flunk this assessment. The thoughts weren't fear regarding his fraud being discovered. They weren't even about winning another match, even if it was a simple practice spar.
'I can't wait to tell Pyrrha,' Jaune thought as he brought the pommel of his sword down in a hammer blow. Once again, Jaune's rival had doomed himself with his poor emotional control. Blass's momentum hadn't been halted by Jaune's block. He kept falling forward...just enough for the strike to land true.
On his nose.
With the most sickening crunch Jaune had ever heard.
Even with Blass's Aura, the impact broke his nose. The Atlesian dropped his weapon in shock. Both of his hands went to his shattered and bloody nose. Luckily his Aura had begun healing the wound. Unluckily, Jaune had dropped into a cat-like crouch in order to deliver a sweep at Blass's ankles.
"Match!" The upperclassman cried out.
Jaune smiled in relief and offered his hand to his downed opponent. Blass looked up with rage filled eyes. He spat out a glob of warm blood. A string of anatomically impossible sexual suggestions followed. Jaune was actually amused. Some of the insults were inspired.
Blass was just to angry to keep his ire directed at Jaune alone. He just had to take a swipe at Pyrrha. "Just go run to that manly ape you cling to."
Jaune wasn't exactly sure just how quickly he swung at Blass, but he knew he got at least two blows in before the Upperclassman pulled him away.
It felt good breaking Blass's nose again.
Jaune stood at attention outside of Erithros Stavros's office. He flicked is gaze to the nearby bench and sighed. "I appreciate the support, Pyrrha...but I'll be fine."
The redhead grinned a fraction. "Jaune, we're the closest thing to partners a primary combat school has. I'm staying with you."
"Fine. It's not like I would stop you even if I had a way to try," the Arc Knight chuckled. The wording was awkward, but the anger and adrenaline had not completely bled out of his system.
Pyrrha started to launch a playful reply. Her attempt was cut off by the door opening of the door. The Headmaster motioned for Jaune to follow him into the office. Pyrrha mouthed 'I am with you' in lieu of a hollow good luck. Headmaster Stravros motioned harshly to a seat.
"Thank you, sir," Jaune said with military precision.
Erithros shook his head. "Mr. Arc, if you wanted to thank me, I would have hoped you wouldn't have struck Blass Bauer. Chalkos Aspida has given his report already. You were obviously provoked by Mr. Bauer's extremely vulgar rant and by his spitting on you. That being said, I cannot allow such conduct to pass without consequence. Mr. Arc, you are confined to campus for one week and will attend the Remedial and Detention class tomorrow night."
"I understand, sir," Jaune did not protest. He accepted the rather lenient punishment. Confinement on campus was not a huge tragedy. He only left campus a few times to go supply shopping or visit his sponsor. 'Visit my sponsor. That's rich.'
Erithros wore the smile of someone who wasn't sure how to react to the situation. "Mr. Arc, I am impressed by your maturity in this matter."
"I can't lose my cool in the field. Grimm can tell. That kind of anger would practically be ringing the dinner bell. I'd be putting my team in danger. This life...it isn't just about me. I wanted to become a hero when I applied to Sanctum. That isn't what I want to be any more. Trying to be a hero and doing things solo will only end with a well-fed Grimm. Huntsmen and Huntresses work together, because if they don't...well, that's the nightmare scenario isn't it? I think...I want to keep the nightmares at bay."
Erithros shook his head. "Mr. Arc, I've never had a student unintentionally guilt-trip me about punishing them. You are dismissed."
"Thank you, sir," Jaune mimicked Pyrrha's tone and temperament as he addressed Sanctum's headmaster. He shook the Headmaster's hand and departed. Jaune found himself simultaneously shocked and unsurprised that Pyrrha had waited for him. "You didn't have to wait for me, Pyrrha. I'm not complaining and I appreciate it."
"You're welcome. What did Headmaster Stavros decide?" Pyrrha asked as she fell in beside Jaune.
"Confined to campus for a week and I have Detention and Remedial class tomorrow night," Jaune laid the details bare.
Pyrrha ran a finger across her bronze, ornate circlet. She nearly jumped when she heard Jaune repeat her name. "Yes, Jaune?"
"You hummed there," Jaune pointed out. "That means you were thinking about something."
The Invincible Girl blushed. She had never given up a 'tell' to anyone before. 'I suppose that shows just how comfortable and real Jaune makes me feel...'
"I am surprised by how lenient the punishment was," the fiery-tressed young woman admitted.
Jaune chuckled. "Well, the headmaster did accuse me of unintentionally trying to guilt trip him about punishing me."
Pyrrha gave Jaune an amused and questioning look. The Arc struggled to avoid the incredibly awkward flustered swallow. 'Does she realize how hot she is?'
"He...uh...agreed with my reasoning for being a huntsman."
"The new reason, about keeping nightmares away?" Pyrrha queried. Pleased with Jaune's nod in response, she punched him in the shoulder. "I guess you really are a dreamer, Jaune Arc."
The detention class was incredibly boring. Jaune was prohibited from any sort of weapons practice or maintenance while serving out his sentence. The first fifteen minutes was spent writing out a 'Behavioral Reflection'. His reflection was completely honest, but Jaune wasn't exactly hiding his negative opinion on Blass's comment about Pyrrha. The 'behavioral reflection' period mercifully ended as Jaune put the finishing touches on his 'Blame Blass' conclusion.
"Now," the bored teacher's aide drawled. "As this is a punishment, you will have to research and write a strategy to defend or redirect a pack of Beowolves away from a village."
Jaune leaned back in his chair and chewed over the scenario. "Are there specifics on the village?"
"It's on the sheet," the aide grumbled. The incredibly bored young man simply passed the sheet to the six students present. Jaune cast a glance around the room. He would be the only person taking this seriously. It was a feeling that cut deeply into his bones. This was a real chance to advance his march towards being a true huntsman.
Jaune actually lost track of time. Naturally, he'd rather be spending time with his buddies Asimi, Kassíteros, or Pyrrha. Especially Pyrrha. This exercise was not a complete waste of time nor unenjoyable.
"You're actually having fun, aren't you?" A girl Jaune didn't recognize snorted. The Arc flashed a glance in the bluenette's direction. She had barely made anything resembling progress.
Jaune's flat look was returned with a glare. "Isn't this why we're here?"
"Wait," Bakar interjected. The only person Jaune recognized leaned forward. "You're telling me...that you actually want to go to a Huntsmen Academy? I thought you were like us. Everyone knows that Arcs have always been Huntsmen. Jaune, you're so painfully average that we all thought you were forced to be here out of some bullshit family tradition."
The nods from some of the other students caught Jaune off guard. He stared in shock at the motley collection. 'Don't know why I am acting shocked. These guys are in detention. From the feel of the room, some of them have been here more than once...'
"I'm not here because of some bullshit family tradition. I choose to be here. I want to be a Huntsman. I made the choice when I was a kid that I'd be the person fighting Grimm out in the boondocks so that my sisters and everyone else would hopefully never see one of those things up close."
"That's...actually a pretty good reason to be here," a voice in the back called out. Jaune was glad to have someone agree with him. His anger hadn't subsided and he angrily finished his plans. The aide running detention could tell things were getting tense and checked the clock on his scroll. The wave of relief radiating from the man would have driven off an Ursa.
"Please hand in your remedial assignment and you may leave," the TA sputtered. Everyone else turned their 'work' in quickly and bolted. Jaune took his time. He really didn't want to deal with the mass of delinquents. The TA accepted his work and Jaune was never so glad to leave a room. Jaune may have not looked back, but his passing was not unnoticed.
The TA slouched in his chair. He had a bad feeling that the room might have exploded during the confrontation. Ring! The sound nearly caused the TA to jolt out of his chair. He fumbled for his scroll.
Once again, he nearly dropped it.
"G-Good evening, Headmaster!"
The headmaster smiled over the visual feed. "Good evening, son. I thank you for volunteering for the remedial class tonight. There is a particular student I would like a report on."
"Of course," The assistant looks at each of the reports. "Which student?"
"Jaune Arc," Starvos casually mentioned.
"Well, he was the only student who took the assignment seriously. There was some...tension. Students attributed his presence at the school to 'some bullshit family tradition'. Bakar was the offender in that statement. I was just noting that in my report."
Erithros's image leaned back in whatever chair he was sitting in back home. "Would you kindly send me Jaune's work? Immediately."
The work was transmitted and the line cut after some platitude-filled small talk. Erithros was completely caught off guard by the opening paragraph. Jaune Arc's status as Sanctum's near mathematical median in standard academics and combat was evidently Remnant's method of making up for this.
"This...wasn't expected, Mr. Arc..."
The throbbing bass of the bar's music had a strangely cathartic effect on Kastana's headache. The past two days had been challenging to say the least. Her client, Remnant's fastest rising star, was being incredibly moody. Kastana had no reason to fear for her job. Pyrrha was too honest to give anything other than the complete truth. That didn't mean the Invincible Girl wasn't holding a slight grudge. Kastana couldn't exactly lay any blame at the young celebrity's feet.
'I did wreck her chance for her first kiss,' the publicist admitted. If the moment of her first kiss had been ruined like that, Kastana probably would have decked the offender. Fortunately, Pyrrha was just too nice...outside of the arenas...to do such a thing.
A shake of the head cleared all those thoughts as she caught sight of Prasinos approaching. Her boyfriend smiled broadly as Kastana practically jumped off of her bar stool. The couple embraced warmly.
"You look...besides gorgeous...like you need a strong drink," Prasinos teased.
Kastana leaned in to her significant other. "I may have gotten Pyrrha a bit mad at me."
"Can the 'Invincible Girl' even get mad? Every time I've seen her, she's easily the most calm and collected person on Remnant."
The publicist snorted. "She's still a teenage girl. I...may have ruined a moment with a boy."
"There's a guy at Sanctum with enough Dust in his veins to try to get with Remnant's biggest arena star?" Prasinos whistled.
"His name is Jaune Arc, yes, that Arc family. The kid doesn't fit the image of what you'd expect from one of the Vytal signatories. I've never seen someone so average. In fact, every time I've talked to him I've found him really boring. Pyrrha seems attached to him." Kastana finished as she motioned for the barkeeper.
"Why is she settling for boring? I thought there were rumors of her and that one guy...that young actor or something."
The publicist actually laughed. "Him? Please! That punk was just inflating his ego after meeting Pyrrha at that charity party a while back. Pyrrha's too polite for her own good. He's the reason for the 'No Acting, Ever' statement I put out two months ago. If anything, he's responsible for pushing her to being a Huntress."
"That bad of a first impression then?" Prasinos laughed alongside his girlfriend. "He single-handedly drove her into a life of fighting monsters in the wilderness. Poor schmuck!"
Kastana shook her head. "I'll say this for the Arc kid, he doesn't treat her like a celebrity. Jaune's fairly grounded, but..."
"But what? Boring isn't it?"
The attractive public relations expert chewed on her lip. "I get the feeling Jaune is...not exactly forthcoming in certain areas. There's something slightly shady about him, despite being a pretty open guy emotionally."
"Maybe that's something that draws Pyrrha in? She can read this guy, but the mystery is appealing?"
"Well, Mister...I think I've found out why I tolerate you so well...You get it," Kastana crowed. "I also think you'll get it."
Prasinos donned a goofy grin that was only acceptable on a man completely in love and on the verge of getting laid. "I was going to wait until later, but..."
The Invincible Girl's media handler took on an incredibly eager look. Kastana was silently begging her lover to continue. "I managed to snag my cousin's villa on the Inner Sea for the week of the 22nd. Just the two of us...The most exclusive beaches in all of Mistral."
"The 22nd would give me plenty of head's up to ask off! We have to go!"
Prasinos smiled broadly. "I'll call him and confirm."
"Go! I'll fire off an e-mail to Mrs. Nikos!"
Prasinos slipped away. Confident in his relative isolation, he pulled out his scroll and set it to 'call' mode. The welcome sound of his half-sister answering brought a smile to his face.
"This better be good," the 'cousin' grumbled. "I made it clear that I don't want to hear from you until we have to fake liking each other at my wedding."
"I have an olive branch, sis," Prasinos quipped. "This will make faking it so much easier."
A decidedly unladylike snort cut across the line. "What could you possibly offer me that would make me forget about all your bullshit?"
"Pyrrha Nikos has a boyfriend."
The dead silence on the line was music to Prasinos's ears. Eventually, a single word broke the silence. "Seriously?"
"Even got a name." Prasinos looked around cautiously.
"If this pans out, I think I'll count this as an olive branch. Hit me with the name."
Prasinos pumped his free fist. "Kid's name is Jaune Arc. Related to the Vytal Accord signer. Supposedly, a hilariously average student. Two things that'll get you out of covering weathermen. First, Pyrrha adores the guy; first kiss adore. Second, he's hiding something. Not sure what."
"Holy shit, this could be huge. I know you're dating Pyrrha's publicist. Would she be willing to talk?" The tabloid reported questioned eagerly.
"Look, I love Kastana like you love Broúntzos. She has a great gig going, I'm already taking a huge risk here. Please, don't even mention you got it from anyone even close to her. In fact...piss her off like you usually do," Prasinos pleaded.
The paparazzi chuckled. "I'm sure there are people who will talk, even if they embellish a bit. The toilet paper I work for isn't exactly MBN."
"Sis, I actually hope this helps us out. Ma hates it when we fight," Prasinos pleaded.
"It just might." A soft click signaled the end of a bitter familial rift...and the end of Jaune's halcyon days.
Author's Note: Here goes my first 'serious' RWBY fic. A few key points to address!
1 and most important) This fic is one of the products of the "Hive Mind" I'm a part of alongside Dread Knight N7 and Lord Farsight. Dread Night N7 is working on a version of this fic. THERE WILL BE SIMILARITIES. We jointly developed this idea. There will be shared character names. There will be major plot points that are shared. THERE IS NO PLAGIARISM. CONSIDER THIS TO BE LIKE MARVEL EARTH 616 VS ULTIMATE MARVEL. Dread Knight N7 hasn't completed his version yet, but it will be published sooner rather than later. He's a Garrus Vakarian Tier Bro. So, I hope you enjoy his fic when he posts it.
2) The pairing for this fic (and Dread's) will be Darkos (Jaune/Pyrrha/Blake). It won't be expanded or altered. Why should it? Darkos is love. Darkos is Life.
3) Blake will appear soon in order to develop everything. If you've read anything from me in the past, you know I try to be incredibly respectful of every character...even characters I hate like Adam Taurus (Fuck that guy) and Uchiha Sasuke.
Fic Recomendations!
RWBY: Check out Dread Knight N7's Knights and Ninjas of Love. It's currently Knightshade and honestly hilariously and likely unintentionally meta. But Dread Knight N7 has successfully cleared out the cobwebs and delivered a very enjoyable fic. With PLOT and soon to be revealed plot. Give it a look!
RWBY/Naruto: Thayerblue1's Tornado of Souls is the reason this fic (and my other published RWBY fic Jaune Appetit) even exists. It's one of, if not THE best Naruto crossover in the history of the universe. You should all give it a look!