Ch 16. Status

The soft ding of the elevator notified Jaune of his arrival to the penthouse. He yawned into his fista nd rubbed his eyes, looking at his reflection he saw himself. The bottom of his eyes had developed purple bags, he scratched the back of his head and sighed. Having sifted through the majority of the information for the past three nights he's barely gotten much sleep. Weirdly enough he's done longer overnighters in the past, so he didn't really understand why he was so sleep deprived recently.

Then again it might have to be with the shock that came with the information he sifted through the past nights. Of course he found what Snowden asked of his...and then some. Now however wasn't the time to think about what Ozpin had in his computer, stepping out of the elevator Jaune walked through the hallway of Zac's penthouse. Once he made it to the door leading into his office he knocked on it.

There was a soft scuffle coming from the inside, Jaune raised a brow at that. After a bit he saw Snowden open the door. Jaune noticed how he had rushed to put on a button up, his collar was up and his hair was a mess.

"Um…"

"Jaune! Hey there buddy, didn't know you were coming over today" he said awkwardly

Jaune raised a brow "I sent you a message on your scroll"

His eyes widened, Jaune showed him his scroll and on it were three unread messages. He smiled bashfully. "Heh, so you did?"

"Yep, you don't mind if I come in, do you?"

"Em, er?"

Before he could answer a second head appeared from behind Zac's shoulder, the man froze. Jaune noticed that it was of the opposite gender. She had teal eyes and light blue hair drooping down her back.

"Snowy, honey. What's taking...so long?" she looked at Jaune and then nodded to herself.

"You know what? I think i'll just leave this out here" with that Jaune dropped off the thumb drive on a table outside, next to a set of keys. Most likely Zac's

"Um...bye" Jaune quickly walked out of the penthouse, he looked almost robotic when he did it. He heard the door slam shut behind him and some thuds come from the inside. It was best not to question it. Once at the elevator he simply called it, the elevator opened and from inside he saw Hargreave.

"Oh, um I wasn't expecting you"

"Jaune, If I may?"

"Yes?"

"I just want to applaud you for your work. It's not so often one sees the Headmaster of Beacon get outsmarted so easily. If I may ask, how were you able to do it?" he asked with genuine curiosity

Jaune huffed "I...learned it from my past work environment"

"I'm guessing it didn't go so well there?"

"...no, it didn't"

The man hummed in confirmation. After a bit he simply patted Jaune on the shoulder and walked inside. "Well then, I do hope for good fortune in your future"

"Thanks" Jaune was about to walk in when he remembered something. "Hargreave, I think Zac is currently busy"

He chuckled "I presume Ms. Neve is here?"

Jaune thought about it for a bit, then nodded "Yes?"

"Hm, thank you for telling me. Also, Jaune. Your payment is waiting for you in the garage. When Donald asks just tell him to look for the Arc"

Jaune nodded, a smile grew on his face. With a soft ding the elevator closed and went downwards. Jaune smiled, he wondered what kind of reaction Misty would have.

Looking out the window Misty glanced black at the clock. She stood up and sat on the couch. Thinking about past events she didn't know what to think, there was one thing that kept repeating itself in her head though. Did she really like Jaune in the way that she did?

It sounded silly, but looking back the only reason she invited him to stay with her was because of the act of kindness he presented her, and she had been infatuated by his looks. But thinking back on it, was it really a good idea?

She decided to think of Jaune as a whole, for starters he wasn't even of this world. She couldn't fathom to think about what his past life may have been like, she said it as if he were reincarnated. The question still lingered, she remembered when he returned from that mission, he drank for who knows how late. Of course she was the one that had to rein him back after his third drink. She didn't get much from him, but from what she could piece together he didn't like going back into that persona of his. He immediately threw the suit away the following morning.

Diverging from that, she thought about him in his time here in remnant. He had helped her more than once, saving her life included. But was her affection well placed? She didn't know, honestly all this time she had been clouded with the idea of living one of those stereotypical couple lifes that it had completely escaped her that problems would eventually arise.

She sighed to herself, she knew that if she wanted to keep this whole relationship thing afloat she would have to make room for compromise. That also included Jaune, she would need to have him limit his job, maybe have him look for a new kind of workspace. The idea of her boyfri-

It had dawned on Misty something. Something she had only recently noticed, they hadn't even gone out on a date. She pulled on her hair and growled to herself. How could she forget. Ok, that's two things she had to bring up. She felt her scroll vibrate, opening it there was a simple message.

J: meet me on the curb

She hummed to herself and walked out of her room. Making her way outside the building she looked around for Jaune. Her tail perked up and she looked to her left, from there she saw a white SUV drive down the road. She recognized the logo of it, she herself knew that it was a high end car. Whoever drove that car sure wanted to show off.

It began to slow down and eventually stopped in front of her. She raised a brow, the slam of a door notified her of the driver getting off. It wasn't until he rounded the back of the SUV that she recognised that floof of hair.

"Jaune...how did you get this?"

He yawned and simply hugged her, of course she was still confused "you didn't answer my question"

"...the job I just finished, the guy said I could get anything I wanted. So I got us this, surprise" he said meekly.

Misty chuckled, "you're serious? This car is ours?"

Jaune simply nodded and rested his chin on his shoulder. "I'm sleepy, don't make me repeat myself" he said childishly

Misty could feel herself get a bit lighter, looking at the blonde boy she simply grabbed his cheeks and gave him a quick kiss. Pulling away she smiled broadly and looked at Jaune. "So, what compelled you to get this specifically?"

"Two things: One, I knew you've always wanted this car, some might as well get it. Two, I wanted to use it as a way to apologize for all the things I put you through, it was unfair of me to lie to you about my job and endanger you without knowing, I'm sorry"

Misty nodded at the apology, her tail wagged slowly "...It's ok"

He grumbled to himself, something about it not being but Misty ignored it. Looking back at the car she hummed to herself for a bit. "I'll only forgive you if you promise me two things"

"Shoot"

"1, you'll do less dangerous jobs and more simpler ones. Nothing that involves shooting people unless necessary"

"Ok, that one's doable. The second one?"

"2, you'll go on a date with me"

He nodded at that "I'm guessing I have to plan it out?"

"You are inviting me out"

"I am?"

"Yup, you just confirmed it"

"Oh, ok. I'll think of something"

"Good boy"

He snorted "ironic coming from you"

She simply chuckled "come on, let's get you inside" walking in she thought back to earlier, maybe things can work out between the two of them.

The light of the computer screen illuminated the room, Jaune should be sleeping. Instead he was looking over the many folders he stole from Ozpin, to say he bit more than he could chew was an understatement. Jaune had sorted through the many folders Ozpin had, to say it was extensive was all too real. But that wasn't the reason why Jaune was on his computer at...3 in the morning. No, it was because of a folder labeled Journal.

Being the nosey boy he was, Jaune took a read of it, he wished he hadn't. Jaune at first was confused, the Journal entries started off as if someone else had written it, each pdf file he read started off with the writer extremely scared, then it changed to a sudden anger, until finally subsiding with a calm note. He also noticed that the handwriting would change over the course of each entry. Lastly, Jaune noticed that certain pages had either gone missing or didn't exist.

He felt like the mystery behind the journal entries was just that, a mystery. Until he read the last Journal entry, currently he was re-reading it and Jauen couldn't help but clench his fist the longer he read it. It was always the final phrase that made him clench his eyes and breath out exasperatedly. That line reminded him of the one tragedy in his life, V.

Reading it, over and over again. Jaune couldn't help but think of who Ozpin really was. SO he searched the files to try and find anything that could allow him to know about Ozpin's past, his real past. Jaune wanted to give up, he really did but he couldn't. Knowing there can be someone out there to suffer the same fate as V hurt him emotionally.

"Damit, what else can I find? There has to be something here"

Jaune grabbed a pillow and yelled into it. How couldn't he, there was a living parasite currently running Beacon academy. After a bit he removed his face from the cushion and sighed. Exiting out of the folder he looked for other ones to find answers.

There were multiple folders in the computer. One was called: maidens, another: relics, there was one labelled: her, and more and more. But Jaune could care less for those, he needed to know who Ozpin really was. Going back to the journal he skimmed over them again, and again nothing appeared that could help him.

The twist of the doorknob alerted him to someone. Quickly he closed the tabs and slammed his computer shut. Unfortunately, the perpetrator, Misty, saw him shut the computer. Her eyes narrowed and she looked at him.

"What were you doing on that?"

"Um….stuff?"

She crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame "what kind of stuff?"

"...video games?"

She sighed and grabbed the computer, placing it to charge on a desk nearby she sat next to Jaune. "Whats' up?"

"Nothing" he looked at the sheets

"You can't just say nothing and expect me not to ask what that means"

"...something came up"

"What kind of something?"

Jaune thought about it for a bit and sighed "A...story"

"Is it a good one?"

"No"

"...I wouldn't mind listening to it"

Jaune sighed "fine

"Once there was a boy, that boy dreamed of doing the impossible. Many laughed, but that didn't stop him. One day, he got his chance to achieve his dream. To show up all those that doubted him. But on the day off, he got sick. Badly, sick. To the point where he didn't know if he would survive or not. But he persevered and eventually he achieved his dream; at the cost of his freedom. Since then he disappeared, never to be heard from again"

Looking over at Misty he saw her cheeks red, her eyes were a bit puffy and she sniffed a bit. Jaune simply embraced her in a hug. The two sat there without saying much, eventually Misty spoke up.

"D-do you think he's ok?"

"...I have a feeling he is"

She nodded, after a bit she fell asleep leaning on him. Jaune rubbed Misty's back, looking at her he thought about his job. He didn't like going back to who he used to be, he didn't like thinking about what he used to be.

Looking at the computer, he sighed. Maybe, it was best to leave that mystery where it was. He didn't need his past to haunt him, not when he has what he needs with him. Leaving into the bed he closed his eyes and escaped into the world of sleep.

Rosa rested her head in her arms, her tail swaying through the air almost lazily. She sighed and looked at Diego, currently he was cleaning the glasses and couldn't be bothered to talk with her. Yawning she spun on her chair and rested both elbows on the counter, her back leaning into it.

"What do you think of that Jaune guy?"

"Hm?" Diego asked

"What do you think of him?"

"...well, he's a good person. Kind, smart, is in good faith with the boss after giving him the arm. Why'd you ask?"

"Hmm? Oh nothing"

"Ok"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Aren't you going to say anything else?"

"What more do you want me to say? That he is super cool? That he has incredible luck around technology? That he is smart enough to build something that shouldn't even exist?"

"Ahh, you're hopeless"

"What, it's not like he's just going to barge i-"

The door slammed open, causing Rosa to jump on her feet. There stood Jaune, he was bent over and clutching his knees, gasping for air.

"Oh, would you look at that"

"Um, Jaune? What's up?"

"Rosa I need your help"

She felt her cheeks warm up "what kind of help?"

"Hold on...ok. I need your help organising a date"

"...huh?"

"Misty's making me host a date that she obviously put out, I need help. Specifically yours"

Diego spoke up "Why hers?"

"Because she's a girl and so is Misty and-"

"You know I'm her ex, I kinda know what she likes and what she doesn't"

Jaune looked at Diego "really? But wouldn't it be weird if you were to help me?"

"Not as weird as asking another girl to help you organise a date. Come I'll help, besides Just got off my shift"

"It's 7 in the morning"

"I'm a bartender at a nightclub. That and I also have to do janitorial duties after losing abte. OS I help you as quickly as I can and then I'm off to bed. Deal?"

"Deal. Bye, Rosa" with that the two walked out. Rosa stood there, her eyes were wide and she felt time resume around her. Noticing Diego and Jaune were gone she felt herself boot up again and said only one thing.

"Huh?"

Yes, the next arc is a date arc, guess who's not excited...me. In all honesty I want to establish the fact that Jaune is trying to leave his life as an edgerunner behind, so to do that, what better way than to have something that'll ground him to a life of normality.

Also, let's talk about Rosa for a bit. Yes, I am aware that her liking him came from out of nowhere, but to be honest it really is just a crush that she has on him. Nothing much…

Lastly, I wanna ask if people would like it if I went back to older chapters and possibly re-write them or edit them, nothing too big. The reason for that is because I feel like the message I'm trying to convey doesn't get received well or is lost in the entirety of the story.

Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and If you have any questions or helpful criticism don't be afraid to leave a review or PM.